At 4:07 a.m., the front door handle slowly turned with the careful precision of someone trying not to make a sound.
I remained motionless on the couch.
Ellie crept into the hallway barefoot, her heels dangling from one hand. The bottom of her prom dress was stained and wrinkled.
The elegant hairstyle she had spent hours perfecting had completely fallen apart. Her purse hung from her other arm.
At first, she didn’t notice me.
Then she turned and saw my silhouette sitting in the dark.
Her entire body froze.
“Mom.”
I switched on the lamp. The warm light revealed smeared mascara beneath her eyes and exhaustion etched across her face.
“It’s four in the morning, Ellie. You said midnight. You never replied to my texts. Where have you been?”
“I was at prom. You know that. My phone died.”
Lying had never been one of her strengths.
“Come sit down,” I said. “Talk to me.”
“Mom, I’m really tired. Can we please—”
“No.”
I rose to my feet.
She flinched.
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