UNPACKING THE PIECES

The house was bigger. Cleaner. More put together than their old one.

It didn't feel like theirs.

Sia stepped through the doorway, the scent of fresh paint and polished wood filling her lungs. Sunlight filtered through the large windows, casting a glow on the hardwood floors. It was nice—too nice. Like something out of a magazine.

Her mother had spent weeks talking about how this was a fresh start, a better place, a better life. But standing here now, Sia wasn't sure if it felt like anything at all.

She let her bag drop to the floor with a soft thud, scanning the open living room. Boxes were stacked near the walls, labeled in their mother's neat handwriting. Kitchen. Sia's Room. Sophie's Room. Books. Miscellaneous.

Sophie breezed past her, tossing her purse onto the couch like she'd already claimed the space. "Okay, I'm calling dibs on the bigger room."

Sia raised an eyebrow. "We don't even know which one is bigger."

"I just know," Sophie said, heading toward the stairs.

Their mother shot her a look. "You both get nice rooms, don't start fighting over it."

Sophie just grinned, taking the stairs two at a time.

Sia sighed, running a hand through her hair before following.

Upstairs, Sophie had already thrown herself onto one of the beds, sprawled out like she owned the place.

"This is definitely mine," she announced.

Sia leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "And what if I wanted that room?"

"You don't," Sophie said, rolling onto her side and propping herself up on one elbow. "You're the type to take the one with the window seat and the quiet corner. This one's too open for you."

Sia hated how right she was.

She turned away, finding her own room at the end of the hall. It was smaller than Sophie's, but still spacious. A large window stretched across one wall, overlooking the neighborhood. Beneath it, a cushioned bench sat built into the wall.

Sophie was right. This was exactly the kind of room Sia would have picked.

She traced her fingers along the window frame before sitting down, pulling her legs up to her chest.

The neighborhood was still, the street empty except for a few parked cars. Everything looked quiet. Normal.

But it still didn't feel like home.

A soft knock sounded at her door.

"You okay?" Their mother stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a tired but gentle expression on her face.

"Yeah," Sia said, though she wasn't sure it was true.

Her mother exhaled, stepping inside and sitting at the edge of the bed. "I know this is… a lot."

Sia nodded, not trusting herself to say anything.

Her mother reached over, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear the way she always did when Sia was little. "It'll get better. I promise."

Sia wanted to believe her.

She forced a small smile. "Yeah."

Her mother gave her a soft squeeze on the knee before standing up. "Come down when you're ready. I ordered takeout."

Sia watched her leave before turning back to the window.

She traced circles on the glass with her fingertip, exhaling slowly.

Tomorrow, she'd have to face school. The new people. The new everything.

She wasn't ready.

But ready or not, it was happening.

---

Later That Night

Sia stirred at the sound of her door creaking open.

Sophie slipped inside, her shadow stretching across the floor. "You asleep?"

Sia sighed, scooting over. "No."

Sophie climbed into bed beside her, pulling the blanket over herself. "It's weird, huh?"

Sia turned her head. "What?"

"Being here. This place. Tomorrow." Sophie sighed. "It's kind of freaking me out."

Sia frowned. "You? Freaked out? You're the outgoing one."

"Yeah, well," Sophie pulled at a loose thread on the blanket, "maybe I'm not as fearless as I act."

That made Sia pause. Sophie never let things get to her—not like this. She was the one who made friends in five minutes, the one who turned any situation into an adventure. But here, in the dark, she wasn't trying to be strong.

Sophie exhaled. "I don't know. I guess I feel like… I have to be fine. For Mom. For you. Like if I fall apart, everything else will too."

Sia turned onto her side, propping her head on her hand. "You don't have to be fine all the time, you know."

Sophie let out a weak chuckle. "Yeah, well. Someone has to be."

Sia's chest tightened. She reached for Sophie's hand, squeezing it. "You don't have to carry everything by yourself. You've got me, okay?"

Sophie didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was softer. "Promise?"

"Promise," Sia said without hesitation. "This move doesn't change us. You can talk to me, cry to me, whatever you need."

Sophie's fingers curled around hers. "Thanks, Sia."

"Anytime."

Silence settled over them.

Sophie's breathing evened out after a while, and Sia realized she'd fallen asleep.

Sia stayed awake a little longer, staring at the ceiling, letting the weight of the night settle in.

Maybe she wasn't the only one who needed reassurance.