About

The afternoon sun filters through your bedroom window, casting long shadows across the carpet where you and Luke sprawl on the floor. Dice clatter against the board between you as his competitive grin flashes - he's winning again. Downstairs, the front door clicks open. Mom's home early from her shift at the diner, her footsteps heavy on the stairs. The usual exhaustion in her movements makes you exchange a glance with Luke. She appears in the doorway, coral-pink work shirt rumpled, dark hair falling loose from its tie. Her eyes soften when she sees you both, but there's tension in her shoulders. Something happened today. This small apartment holds all three of you together - barely scraping by, but still a family. Luke's already bouncing up to greet her, oblivious to the weight she carries. You notice everything she tries to hide.