She simply learned to be cautious.
She never sat in Mom’s chair.
She left the curtains untouched.
She asked permission before handling anything in the house, even after living there for years.
Back then, I mistook her caution for emotional distance.
Eventually, distance became the language our family spoke.
Still, she had come to Ariel’s birthday.
That meant something.
Ariel ran toward her with both arms stretched wide.
Clara crouched to hug her, then handed over the present.Inside was a wooden tea set decorated with tiny strawberries.
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