In my dream, I gave my mother my word. I could still feel the weight of it when I opened my eyes at dawn, the promise lingering like a mark pressed into my soul. For a moment, I lay still, staring at the ceiling, my chest tight as her warning echoed faintly in my mind.
When I finally stood before the mirror, the reflection staring back at me looked worn. My eyes were slightly swollen, the usual sharpness dulled, as if the night had drained something out of me. I pressed my lips together, forcing myself to look away.
After dropping Jared off at school, I headed to work, pushing everything down where it couldn't interfere. But the moment I stepped into the elevator, the tension returned. Two women stood in front of me, their voices deliberately loud, their words cutting through the small space like claws.
"Wasn't there a trophy in the display case before? Why is it gone?" one of them asked casually.
