Chapter 30
The First Real Step
The morning was bright and clear.
I dressed carefully in my most presentable outfit, a long sleeved shirt in light blue and a white flare skirt, and I was smoothing the fabric with deliberate hands.
My bag was packed with notes organized, annotated, rehearsed. My stomach fluttered with nerves and a kind of fragile excitement.
This was it.
The first real step toward the future I wanted.
As I descended the stairs, the familiar noise of the household drifted upward. Voices. Movement. Tension. I paused halfway down, recognizing the sound of Lilith's theatrically wounded tone.
"…but Father, I promise I'll make you proud this time. Please forgive me," she pleaded, each syllable carefully dipped in soft desperation.
I reached the foyer to find Father standing near the door, overcoat on, keys in hand. Lilith clung to his arm like a lifeline, her eyes wide and shimmering just enough to suggest sincerity.
"Good morning, Father," I greeted.
