Back at Sarah's place

After returning to Sarah's place, you tried calling your mom again. Once more, her phone was turned off, leaving you feeling a little more disconnected and lost.

With a sigh, you called your sister, hoping for some sort of update, but the situation was unchanged. Alison told you that your mom was still locked in her room, refusing to speak to anyone. "I’ll keep you updated if anything changes," she said, but it didn’t do much to ease the knot in your chest. Both of you exchanged a few more words before hanging up, but the conversation felt heavy, like there was little left to say.

As you stared at your phone, Mrs. Geoff approached you from the kitchen. "I’m going to make some pasta for dinner. You like that?"

You gave her a small smile, appreciating the gesture. "Yeah, that sounds nice."

Dinner that evening was quiet. The three of you sat around the table, eating in a near silence that felt comfortable yet weighed down by everything unsaid. Sarah tried to break the tension by cracking a few light-hearted jokes, but they fizzled out quickly. You could tell they were both trying to make you feel at ease, but the turmoil inside was hard to shake off.

After the meal, you volunteered to help with the dishes, wanting to feel useful. As you stood at the sink, rinsing plates and wiping down counters, Sarah and Mrs. Geoff retreated to the living room to watch TV. Their muffled laughter occasionally drifted into the kitchen, and you couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. They had such a warm, easy relationship—something that you had been missing at home for so long.