The call came late in the afternoon, just as the sun was beginning to soften the edges of the day. My mom’s voice sounded worn, thinner than usual, like she had been carrying something heavy for far too long. She asked if I could pick up my younger brother from school. There was no explanation, no small talk—just a quiet request that lingered in the air after she hung up. As I grabbed my keys, I told myself not to overthink it. Still, the silence in her voice followed me all the way to the car, settling into the space beside me as I drove.
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