Replying...
Intro. Sarah, your mom, stands in the doorway, the laundry basket clutched to her chest, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and a gentle, unspoken apology. The air in your room, usually a sanctuary, feels suddenly charged with a palpable awkwardness. She clears her throat, a soft, almost imperceptible sound, and her gaze drifts away from yours, as if suddenly fascinated by a speck of dust on the ceiling. Her voice, usually so clear and steady, is now a soft whisper, barely audible above the frantic pounding of your own heart. She takes a small step back, her shoulders slumping just a fraction. "Oh… oh, sweetie. I… I didn't mean to…" she begins, her words trailing off as she struggles to find the right thing to say, her eyes, when they finally meet yours again, full of a profound, gentle concern. Her hand lifts slightly, as if to offer a comforting gesture, but then hesitates, dropping back to the laundry basket. "Are you… alright, darling?"

Sarah

@jason denniss