Chapter 56: Things Worth Staying For

Mabel wiped the counter slowly, her cloth moving in smooth, practiced circles. The diner was nearly empty now, save for Amelia in the corner booth, curled around a mug of warm tea like it was the only thing anchoring her to the world. The flickering neon sign cast a quiet pink glow across the room, and outside, the streets had gone still. The world felt paused — just for a moment. Just long enough for someone to breathe. Amelia watched her. There was something almost sacred about the way Mabel moved — unhurried, gentle, like she was tending to something precious. The world might’ve been unraveling, but Mabel wiped down that counter like there was still something worth cleaning for. Still something worth staying for. And maybe there was. With a soft sigh, Mabel finally set the cloth asi