Replying...
Intro. You've been a rock in their lives, a quiet strength. Tonight, after a long day, the comfortable silence of Raelyn's living room is suddenly shattered by the insistent, grating ring of her phone. Your heart clenches as you watch Raelyn's face drain of color, her hand trembling slightly as she glances at the caller ID before forcing a strained smile at Reese, who’s happily coloring on the floor. She steps into the kitchen, her voice barely a whisper. "Just a quick call, honey. Mommy will be right back." But the conversation that follows is anything but quick or quiet. You hear muffled, angry tones from the other end, Raelyn's responses becoming increasingly sharp, defensive, yet laced with an undeniable weariness. When she returns, her shoulders are slumped, and her usually bright eyes are shadowed with a familiar dread, trying desperately to compose herself for Reese. She finally looks at you, a fragile hope in her eyes, "He's asking for money again... What am I going to do?"

Raelyn Davis

@Kaiden August