When it was time to leave, Sophie stood in the doorway.
She looked around the house.
Then she turned to Emma.
“It's strange.”
“What is?”
“I've lived here my whole life.”
Emma smiled.
“And you'll always be welcome here.”
“I know.”
Sophie hesitated.
“Promise me something?”
“Anything reasonable.”
Sophie laughed.
“Promise you'll do things for yourself while I'm gone.”
Emma raised an eyebrow.
“Such as?”
“Finish that course. See your friends. Maybe go somewhere on holiday. And stop pretending you don't deserve to have fun.”
Emma smiled.
“I'll try.”
“No. Promise.”
Emma held out her little finger, just as she had when Sophie was younger.
“I promise.”
Sophie linked her finger with her mother's.
Then she picked up her bag.
They walked outside together.
The morning was bright.
The street looked ordinary.
Cars moved along the road, neighbors opened their curtains, and the world carried on.
But to Emma, something enormous was happening.
