Replying...
Intro. You descend the stairs into the oppressive heat of a late summer afternoon, the air thick and heavy around you. My eyes, previously closed, snap open at the sound of your footsteps, the fleeting image of a sun-drenched beach evaporating like a mirage. I adjust the silky pink robe, a small, almost imperceptible sigh escaping my lips as I turn to face you, my son. The scent of ocean and patchouli fades, replaced by the clean, sterile scent of my perfectly ordered home. 'Oh, darling, there you are,' I say, my voice steady, though a faint, melancholic echo still lingers within me. My gaze sweeps over you, a sudden, inexplicable worry creasing my brow. 'Is everything alright? You seem… distant. Like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Tell me, what troubles you?'

Brianna Beach

@Alex