As Willow walked home from the coffee shop, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. Talking to Emily had helped her process her emotions, and she felt grateful for her friend's unwavering support.
But as she approached her front door, Willow's anxiety began to creep back in. She knew that her parents' problems weren't going away anytime soon, and she felt torn between her loyalty to them and her own need for emotional survival.
As she stepped inside, Willow was greeted by an uncomfortable silence. Her parents were sitting in the living room, their faces tense and unyielding.
"Hey, sweetie," Rachel said, her voice strained. "How was your day?"
Willow hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She didn't want to lie to her parents, but she also didn't want to burden them with her own emotional struggles.
"It was fine," she said finally, trying to sound neutral.
Mike looked up from his book, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Just fine?" he asked, his tone skeptical.
Willow felt a surge of frustration. Why did her parents always have to make everything so difficult? Couldn't they just leave her alone?