*Lily*

The world outside had continued its relentless spin, but within the walls of my father's house, time seemed to have slowed to a gentle crawl. Two weeks since the expulsion had reshaped my existence into something unrecognizable. I'd traded classrooms and libraries for the comforting monotony of domestic life, finding solace in the simple rhythm of household chores.

I could tell my father wanted to say so much to me, but after I returned home carrying my ...