In the quiet solitude of my room, I diligently tidied up the space, a task that felt oddly therapeutic in its simplicity. Ace and Alex were currently abroad for work commitments, leaving me with a sense of both loneliness and tranquility. Cher was occupied with her own job, creating an unusual stillness in the usually bustling household.

　　As I rearranged books and straightened picture frames, the absence of their usual banter and laughter was palpable. The silence was both ...