Chapter 50 Midway Through Summer

• The sweltering days of summer stretched on, each one blending seamlessly into the next. Since that evening meal shared with my mother upon my return, I had imprisoned myself within the confines of my own home, a recluse in my own room.
• My mother's persistent efforts to coax me out of my room only fueled my determination to remain secluded, steadfast in my solitude.
• Despite her best attempts, I resisted her every plea, weaving intricate excuses to evade the outside world. My friends, summoned by my mother in a desperate bid to rouse me from my seclusion, were met with the same deflections, my newfound skill in deceit leaving even me surprised.