Damien walked through the front door, his body sagging with exhaustion. A week on the road for business had drained him to the core. The weight of his tiredness settled heavily on his shoulders, making each step feel like a monumental effort.
Home, sweet home, he thought, as he kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the couch. With a weary grin etched across his face, he sauntered over to his mother, embracing her in a tight, affectionate hug.
Planting a gentle kiss on her cheek, he conveyed his love and weariness all at once. The sun was shining brightly through the kitchen window as he strolled in and took a seat by the kitchen island with his mother, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort enveloping him. "Hey, Mom. How've you been?"
The elderly woman cleared her throat and spat a glob of phlegm into the crumpled handkerchief she held tightly in her weathered hand.