It was the next morning after New Year. The house felt quieter than usual when I stepped out of my room, still drying my hair with a small towel. The air had that early-morning calm, the kind that made everything feel strangely soft. I walked downstairs after my bath, and Mabel and Mr. Gates were already sitting at the dining table.
Their faces lit up the second they saw me. That small warmth in their eyes… I wasn’t used to it. But it made something in my chest loosen just a little. I walked over and sat down.
Mabel smiled gently. “How was your night?”
“Was good, thanks,” I answered, matching her smile even though my voice felt light and small.
She gave me a reassuring nod, “Enjoy your breakfast.”
I smiled again as one of the workers plated my food in front of me. The smell was warm a
