The late afternoon sun was beginning to cast soft shadows across the street as Azaria made her way to her mother's house. She had decided to leave work earlier than usual, unable to sit at her desk for another minute longer. Her mind had been racing all day, filled with a mixture of utter mortification and helplessness. As she walked up to the front door, she took a deep breath, reaching out to knock.
Genevieve opened the door a moment later, her face instantly lighting up with a bright, welcoming smile. "Azaria! What a lovely surprise, darling. You're early today."
"Hi, Mum," Azaria said, giving her a quick hug as she stepped inside the warm home. "I left work early today. I just really needed to get out of there and see you."
Genevieve shut the door behind her, looking at her daughter with gentle, yet curious eyes. "Is everything alright, baby? You look a bit flustered."
