The Danger of Falling

Ruby’s POV

I sat at the kitchen table, my fingers circling the rim of my mug even though the tea had long gone cold. The house smelled of rosemary and soap, the kind of comfort that usually calmed me. But tonight, nothing could quiet the storm swirling in my chest.

Mom noticed, of course. She always did. She set down the dish she was drying and looked at me with that gentle patience she carried li