I gently closed the door to Mom's room and turned back toward the living room.
The empty living room was bathed in soft moonlight that filtered in through the curtains. I walked to the window, gazed out at the quiet night, and took a deep breath.
I had to pull myself together—not just for myself but for Mom too.
I turned off the lights and went back to my room.
Lying in bed, I couldn't fall asleep no matter how much I tossed and turned. It wasn't until dawn began to break that I finally drifted off.
…
The next morning, a knock at the door woke me up. I opened the door to find Mom standing there, holding a glass of milk and a few slices of bread.
"Serena, get up and eat something," she said softly.
I took the milk and bread before forcing a smile. "Thanks, Mom."
She sat down beside my bed and watched me, hesitating as if she wanted to say something. I knew exactly what was on her mind.
"Mom, don't worry too much," I said. "Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up. Besides, I've earned quite a bit from working at Hastings Group these past few years."
It sounded like one of those comforting lies, but both Mom and I knew it was the truth.
She sighed, reaching out to gently pat my head. "Serena, you've grown up."
Hearing that, I smiled at her, nodded, and lowered my head to continue eating my bread.
After breakfast, I started packing. Since I had decided to move, there was no point in delaying. I sorted out my important documents and paperwork first. As for everything else, I figured I'd move them gradually once I found a new place.
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