Chapter 69

• The sun was setting, casting warm hues across the living room as Maya folded a blanket on the couch. The house was unusually quiet, save for the faint sound of the TV in the kids’ room upstairs. Ivy had spent the entire afternoon in her room with the door closed, something that had become a regular occurrence lately. Maya sighed, her heart heavy with concern.
• She couldn’t ignore it anymore. Ivy had been distant for weeks now, her usually cheerful and talkative nature replaced by curt responses and a brooding silence. Maya felt helpless, unsure of how to reach her daughter. But tonight, she decided she wouldn’t let it continue. She needed to understand what was going on.
• Maya knocked gently on Ivy’s door before opening it slightly. Ivy was sitting cross-legged on her bed, headphones on and a book in her lap. She glanced up, her expression unreadable.