Sienna

I woke up with that weird mix of fear and adrenaline sitting heavy in my chest. The kind that makes your heart beat a little too fast even before your eyes fully open. My mum was already awake — I could hear the soft zip of a bag and the clink of something being folded neatly in the living room. She was packing. Not rushing… just moving like someone who had made up her mind.

Today was the day we were going to the lake house.

I sat up slowly, rubbed my eyes, and the moment I ...