I sat up slowly, clutching the blanket to my chest. It took me a moment to remember where I was, to remember why I was here.

Mom was gone.

The thought sliced through me like a knife all over again. I squeezed my eyes shut, but the grief didn’t fade. It lingered, heavy and suffocating, like the walls of this house.

The clock on the nightstand ticked softly. Almost nine.

I slipped out of bed and padded to the window. From here, I could see the sprawling gardens below, trimmed to perfection. ...