As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, she found herself back at the bridge overlooking the frozen river. She leaned against the railing, watching as the sky shifted from gray to pink.
The world felt still, suspended in that moment between night and day.
Evelyn closed her eyes, letting the cold seep into her skin. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of peace.
Tomorrow would come. Or maybe it wouldn’t. Either way, she was ready.
Evelyn walked through the quiet streets, her steps slow and measured. The cold bit into her skin, but she didn’t mind.
She paused as she passed her father’s house. The lights were still on. She remembered his habit of staying up late, probably helping her half-siblings with their studies. It reminded her of the times when he had stayed up for her too—once upon a time. But those memories felt distant now, like they belonged to another lifetime.
With a faint smile, she kept walking.
This time, she headed toward her mother’s house.
The house was dark, its windows shadowed against the pale glow of dawn. But even in the dim light, Evelyn could make out the white curtains that adorned her mother’s windows.