Lyra nodded. “Yeah. I feel a bit better today.”

Her mother walked closer and touched her arm lightly. “Good. Today should not be difficult. Just listen to your body.”

Lyra nodded again, but she noticed something. Her mother’s eyes looked tired. Not normal tired. The kind of tired that came from thinking too much or hiding something. Lyra sat up a little straighter.

“Are you okay?” Lyra asked.

Her mother paused for a second before she answered. “Yes. I am fine.”

The pause ...