Liora's POV
This has been the longest, most bothersome night I’ve endured in a while. I’ve been tossing and turning, checking the time over and over, hoping that morning will finally arrive and bring with it some sense of relief. Maybe then, I’ll feel better, or at least distracted. The unease gnawing at me refuses to let go.
As dawn breaks, I decide to stop wallowing in bed and head downstairs. I took a warm bath, then slipped on my pink sundress, the fabric soft against my skin, and make my way straight to the kitchen, desperate for a cup of coffee to jumpstart the day.
“Good morning, Liora,” comes a familiar voice from across the room. It’s Mrs. Bonita, our family chef, who has been with us for as long as I can remember.
“Morning, Mrs. Bonita. How have you been?” I ask, forcing a smile. She’s practically family, having been with us for decades. Her presence is comforting in its familiarity, though today even that doesn’t seem to ease the tightness in my chest.