❝ 𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞ ʲᵃˢᵖᵉʳ ʰᵃˡᵉ ( EN )

☇ 𝟭𝟱

After their moment together by the lake, Alice drove Théodora back home. The ride was silent, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Théodora could still feel the echo of Alice's words resonating within her, the information she had just learned about Jasper and the Cullens swirling in her mind.

"Thank you for taking me there," Théodora said, giving Alice a faint smile as the car came to a stop in front of her house.

"I knew you needed it," Alice replied, returning her smile. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Théodora nodded before stepping out of the car, watching Alice disappear into the night. Once inside, she went straight to her room, feeling the weight of the day pressing on her shoulders. After putting down her things, she decided to take a shower to relax. She let the hot water cascade over her skin, her thoughts constantly returning to the conversations of the day.

Why do I feel so much for Jasper? she wondered, closing her eyes as the water flowed down her back. Why do I care so much about what he's going through? She watched the water disappear down the drain, as if it was washing away her doubts, fears, and uncertainties. Time slipped away, and she stayed in the shower longer than expected, savoring the comforting warmth, allowing herself to reflect and feel.

When the water finally started to cool, she stepped out, wrapping her body in a towel. Her thoughts were still muddled, but she felt a bit lighter, as if some of the weight she had been carrying had lifted. As she headed to her room, she was surprised to find her mother sitting on her bed, a tired smile on her lips.

"Hey, sweetheart," her mother said softly, her eyes kind, though the dark circles beneath them were hard to miss. "I'm finally home to spend a little time with you."

Théodora felt her heart tighten. Her mother, a nurse at Forks Hospital, often worked night shifts. They were used to only catching brief moments together, in the mornings before her mother left for work or sometimes at the end of the day. "Mom... you should rest," Théodora murmured, sitting next to her.

"I will, but first, I wanted to spend some time with my daughter," her mother replied with a warm smile. "Are you doing okay? I know I'm not around often to ask."

Théodora shrugged, a faint smile on her lips. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... managing school and friends. You know, the usual."

Her mother studied her for a moment, and Théodora saw a flicker of concern in her eyes. "You know you can tell me anything, right? Even though I'm not here often, I still worry about you."

"I know," Théodora whispered. She suddenly felt the urge to tell her everything, about the Cullens, about Jasper, about this new life that was both frightening and fascinating. But the words stuck in her throat. How could she explain all of this to her mother without making her panic?

"Your father wishes he could see you more often too," her mother continued, a melancholic smile on her lips. "He talks about you all the time when he gets back from his trips. He wonders how you're doing, how you're growing up."

"I miss him too," Théodora admitted, feeling her eyes sting. "Sometimes I wish we could all be home together, like before."

Her mother nodded. "Me too. But we do our best, don't we? We adapt." She gently stroked her daughter's cheek. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay? No matter what happens, you're stronger than you think."

Théodora felt tears well up, but she held them back, nodding. "I promise, Mom."

Her mother looked at her thoughtfully and then smiled. "Your hair's still wet, sweetheart," she said. "Just like when you were little. Remember? I used to spend hours untangling it."