Sophia stood in front of the house she had once called home. It had been a month since she last visited this place, though it felt much longer. The air carried a strange mix of nostalgia and apprehension.
"Gosh, it's been a while," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the rustling leaves.
She reached into her bag, rummaging for her spare key, fully aware that her mother was unlikely to be home at this hour. She always had a predictable schedule. When she found the key and slid it into the lock, her hand froze as the door swung open without resistance.
"Weird," she murmured, stepping cautiously inside.
The familiar scent of old wood and faded lavender filled her senses, wrapping around her like a bittersweet embrace. She hadn't realized just how much she'd missed it.
"Good to be home," she whispered to herself.