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It was well past their mama's bedtime when the Carter sisters finally pulled into the gravel driveway of their childhood home.
The headlights cut through the darkness for a moment before Kate turned them off, plunging everything back into the quiet stillness of the night. The house stood just as they remembered it, with its peeling paint and the porch light flickering faintly, a beacon of familiarity. Theodora sighed, leaning her head against the window for a moment before opening the door and stepping out. The night air was cool and carried a hint of pine, mingling with the faint scent of the nearby creek.
They'd been driving longer than Theo would've liked, the hours stretching endlessly as the road unraveled before them. By the time they'd arrived, she was sure the only ones awake were them and the crickets.
They moved quietly up the porch steps, mindful of the wood that groaned under their weight. Kate shot Theo a look when a particularly loud creak echoed through the stillness, and Theo shrugged, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips. "Guess some things never change."
It was a relief to find the spare key still nestled beneath the chipped ceramic pot Theo had painted in second grade, the one with uneven sunflowers and streaks of green where yellow should've been. "Good old reliable Mama," Theo murmured as she fit the key into the lock. Without it, they would've been left praying their knocks would wake their mama—a near impossibility given how deeply she slept.
Once inside, the sisters closed the door as softly as they could, the latch clicking faintly. Every step through the familiar halls was a delicate dance, their feet navigating the spots they knew would betray them with groans and creaks. The house felt frozen in time, untouched by the years they'd spent away. The walls still bore faded photographs of birthdays and holidays, the same floral wallpaper stubbornly clinging to its place. It smelled exactly as Theo remembered—like lavender sachets and the faintest hint of wood smoke. The scent washed over her, a balm to the ache she hadn't realized had been building inside her.
They tiptoed their way into the kitchen, a haven of late-night talks and stolen snacks in their youth. Kate immediately reached for the cupboard, pulling out two glasses. She grabbed the pitcher of water from the fridge, the cool metal handle glinting under the faint moonlight that streamed through the window.
The two of them drank side by side in silence, the cold water soothing their travel-worn throats. Theo let herself lean against the counter, the weight of the day finally lifting as she stood there in the house that had always been their anchor. But then the faint shuffle of footsteps reached their ears, and both sisters froze, exchanging a glance.
"Mama, it's us," Kate called softly, her voice carrying just enough to reach the shadow moving in the hallway.
Their mama appeared in the doorway, her hair mussed and her eyes squinting against the dim light. "Kate? Theo?" Her voice wavered with confusion as she stepped closer, her brows knitting together. Then, as if the sight of them fully registered, her face softened, and she hurried to pull them into her arms. "What happened?"
