The Roots Beneath

Chapter 4: Fractured Moments

The late afternoon sun cast a warm, golden light through the lace curtains in the living room, filling the space with a deceptive sense of tranquility. Seren sat at the kitchen table, her textbooks spread out in front of her, but her attention was elsewhere. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, each second dragging on as she waited for her parents to come home.

Her mother's attempt at a family dinner the previous night had been a strained affair, filled with polite conversation and forced smiles. Her father had arrived late, apologetic but distant, and they had all sat around the table eating chicken soup in a silence that was only broken by the clinking of spoons against bowls. It was a far cry from the lively dinners they used to have, where laughter and stories were shared freely. Seren missed those times, but lately, it felt like her family was made up of strangers occupying the same space.

The sound of the front door opening pulled her from her thoughts. She heard her mother's footsteps first, light and hurried as she entered the house. Her father's heavier steps followed shortly after. Seren glanced up from her book, bracing herself for whatever mood would greet her today.

Her mother, Grace, appeared in the kitchen doorway, still in her work clothes, a tired smile on her face. "Hey, sweetheart. How was school?"

"Fine," Seren replied, closing her textbook. "Same as always."

Grace nodded, her eyes flicking over to the clock. "Your father's home too. I was thinking we could have dinner together again tonight."

Seren hesitated. "Sure. Is there something special going on?"

Her mother's smile faltered slightly, and Seren noticed the dark circles under her eyes, more pronounced than usual. "No, I just... thought it would be nice. We haven't had a lot of family time lately."

There it was again, that forced attempt at normalcy. Seren could see it in the way her mother moved, the way she avoided direct eye contact. Something was wrong, but no one seemed willing to say it out loud.

"Okay," Seren said, trying to keep her tone light. "I'll help with dinner."

Grace's smile returned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "That would be great. Why don't you start with the salad? I'll check on your father."

As her mother left the room, Seren rose from the table and moved to the fridge, pulling out vegetables for the salad. She worked in silence, the repetitive motions of chopping and slicing calming her nerves. But her mind continued to wander, replaying the past few months and the gradual shift in her family dynamics.

Her parents had always been busy, but there had been a time when they made an effort to connect, to be present. Lately, though, it felt like they were both retreating into their own worlds. Her father, Robert, had become more absorbed in his work, often staying late at the office or bringing paperwork home to review. Her mother, once the social butterfly of Pine Hollow, now seemed exhausted by even the simplest of social interactions.

Seren couldn't remember the last time they had all sat down together without tension hanging over them like a dark cloud. She knew they were both dealing with their own struggles—her father's stress at work, her mother's increasing anxiety—but they kept those things to themselves, leaving Seren to navigate the silence on her own.

By the time she finished the salad, her mother had returned to the kitchen, looking a bit more composed. She started preparing the main course, humming softly to herself. Seren watched her for a moment, wondering if she should say something, ask her mother what was really going on. But the words caught in her throat. Every time she tried to bring it up, she was met with deflection, reassurances that everything was fine. But it wasn't fine—Seren could feel the cracks widening beneath the surface.