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    b99 /b

    Sienna’s POV

    Noah immediately cheered in delight. “Yeayb! /bMommy’s staying with us!” He hopped up and quickly grabbed my handb, /bpulling me toward the house.

    I couldn’t stop a small smile from appearing bat /bhis bexcitement/b. bThat /bwarmth bseeped /bbinto /bbmy /bchest again, a feeling I hadn’t had in a long time.

    Liam gave a faint smile, then opened the door. “Wee home, Sienna.”

    I stepped inside with mixed feelings. There was still a part of me that wanted to keep my distance, but there was also another part slowly melting, because bof /bLiam, because of Noah, and maybe because bmy /b

    heart was too tired of being alone.

    I stood frozen in front of that bedroom door. The room that had once been mine, ba /bce full of memoriesb, /b

    and also of wounds. When I pushed it open slowly, a gentle scent of cleaner greeted me, no longer the stale air I had imagined. White curtains hung neatly, the afternoon light spilling in bto /breveal a room kept

    tidy as though untouched by anyone. Cam

    I stepped inside quietly, tracing every corner. The vanity on the right was still the same, the wooden wardrobe in the corner still standing firm. But something felt different. bI /bno longer felt suffocated like before, only an emptiness that made the room feel unfamiliar. As if it had been waiting for its owner to

    return, though I had long considered it part of my past.

    I touched the bed, the same bed where I had once cried alone through countless nights. My fingers

    brushed against the smooth sheet, and for some reason, my chest tightened.

    I bsat /bon the edge of the bed, letting myself sink into the flood of memories that suddenly surged forward. Every inch of this broom /bhad once been a witness, smallughter, heated arguments, and tears no one else ever saw. Nights when I stayed awake, staring at the ceiling, hoping something would change. Days when I stood before the mirror, pretending to be strong though I felt fragile inside.

    bNow /bit ball /bseemed distant, but the traces remained, faintly etched into the walls, the floor, the very air I breathed. bNo /blonger a choking pain, but a kind of bitter silence. Like ba /bscar long healed, yet still leaving a

    bmark /bthat could never be erased.

    I bclosed /bmy beyes /bbfor /ba moment, trying to ept that this room was part of my journeyb, /bba /bpart I once wanted to forget. But now I realized forgetting never meant erasing. Forgetting only meant looking away, while the wound stayed, waiting for moments like this to remind me of its presence.

    bMy /bfingers still rested on the sheet. It felt cold, unlike the warmth of bNoah’s /bembrace earlier. And there by /bthe bdifference/bb, /bI was no longer alone. I was no longer trapped in this room as before. There was a way bout now, /bba /bsmall hand leading me back bto /blife.

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    Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes. The afternoon light streaming through the curtain felt softer, as if offering a new chance. Perhaps this broom /bno longer had to be a ce of pain.

    Iy down for a moment, just bto /bbfeel /bwhat bit /bwas blike /bbto /bbbe /bback bin /bbthis /bbed. My chest was bstill /bheavyb, /bbut this time there was a little space bto /bbreathe. bNot /bperfect, but enough to make me believe I bcould /bendure.

    A soft knock bat /bthe door startled me. “Sienna, may bI /be bin/bb?/bb” /bLiam’s voice came gently bfrom /bboutside/b.

    I turned quickly, exhaling before answering, “Come in.”

    The door opened, and Liam stepped inside carrying a new gray nket and a white pillow bthat /bbstill /bsmelled fresh. He walked toward the bed, cing everything down carefully.

    b“/bI’m sorry if this room feels messyb,/bbi” /i/bhe said softlyb, /bncing at me before smoothing the nket in his hands. “But this room has always been cleaned. bNo /bone has ever used it since you leftb./bb” /b

    I held back the sudden surge of emotion. There was something in his voice that felt sincere, like a confession that this space had been deliberately preserved for me.

    He turned back, his gaze serious. b“/bbIf /byou’re ufortable staying here, I can prepare another room for

    you. Don’t force yourself.”

    I shook my head slowly, trying to smile though it was hard. “It’s alright, Liam. I’ll be fine here.”

    He looked at me for a long moment, as if making sure I truly meant it. But in the end, he only nodded. ”

    Alright. I trust you. But remember, if you ever feel uneasy, tell me.”

    Silence lingered in the room for a moment before he cleared his throat softly. b“/bI’ll prepare dinner. Take your time, rest for a while. You need it.”

    I only nodded again, unable to say much. As he walked out and gently closed the doorb, /bI remained seated

    on the edge of the bed.

    Quiet filled the room once more, broken only by the sound of my own breathing. I reached for the pillow

    Liam had just ced there, pressing my face into it. The scent of fresh fabric filled my senses, and my beyes /bstung with sudden warmth.

    So many memories were bound to this space, bitter ones I had long wished to forget. But nowb, /bsomehow, the room no longer felt frightening. Maybe because Noah’sughter echoed in this house, or maybe because Liam had left this ce open for me, never truly closing the door.

    I drew in a long breath before finally opening the bedroom door. After sitting alone bfor /bwhat felt like too long, I needed to step outside, bto /bfind a bit of calm beyond the walls bheavy /bwith memories. bMy /bsteps were bslow /bas I descended the stairs, and from the kitchen came the sound of pans and pots ttering togetherb. /b

    I found Liam standing there, busy bat /bthe stove. The bsavory /baroma of stir–bfry /bgreeted me instantlyb, /bfilling the dining space. His back was straight, his movements fluid, as though he was used bto /bcooking. When I

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    hesitated at the doorway, he nced over his shoulder and smiled.

    “Almost done,” he said lightly, as if to reassure me. b“/bJust sit, don’t worry about ba /bthing. Tonight, let me

    handle it.”

    I nodded faintly, then pulled out a chair and sat at the dining table, which connected seamlessly with the

    kitchen. An odd feeling stirred inside me, a mix offort and awkwardness. Rarely had I seen Liam blike /b

    this, so rxed and warm.

    Not long afterb, /bthe sound of small footsteps echoed down the bcorridor/bb. /bNoah appearedb, /bhis bhair /bba /bblittle /b

    messyb, /bhis eyes sparkling with excitement. “Mommyb!/b” he called cheerfully before trotting bover /bto me.

    I smiled and opened my arms, letting him settle onto the chair right beside meb. /bbNoah /bleaned against me yfully, resting his head against my arm for a moment. The warmth of his small body beased /bbthe /bheaviness I had carried all day.

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