Emily was still inside the room when her sister walked in.
She was folding the last of her clothes, placing them carefully into a suitcase on the bed. The room looked different, almost empty.
Half-open closet.
It didn't feel like hers anymore.
The door opened slowly.
Her sister leaned against the frame, arms crossed, watching.
"So," she said, looking around, "this is the room."
Emily didn't answer, because she was avoiding problems, trying to stay in her own land.
Her sister stepped inside fully this time, her eyes moving from the window to the bed to the dresser scanning it as if she was looking for something.
"It's bigger than I thought," she added casually. "The lighting is also looking nice."
Emily zipped up her suitcase still in silence.
"I'm almost done," she said quietly.
Her sister walked toward the window and pulled the curtain slightly. "I'm trying to feel relaxed in my new room," she said. "But it still feels like you're making it feel uncomfortable for me."
Emily kept her face neutral. "It won't for long before I leave."
Her sister turned and studied her. " Why are you acting as if you're fine."
"i'll soon leave the room for you," Emily replied in frustration praying she just shot up. "."
Her sister nodded slowly. "Yeah. You should be fast."
There was a small pause.
"You don't hate me, do you?" her sister asked suddenly.
Emily looked at her properly for the first time. " Can you please allow me finish with my things so I can leave."
"That doesn't answer the question."
Emily picked up a box. "I don't hate you.".
Her sister smiled innocently. "Good."
She walked over to the closet and looked inside. "You cleared it properly. Thanks."
Emily didn't respond.
"I might change the layout if they don't suit my aesthetics," her sister continued. "Move the bed closer to the window. I like natural light in the mornings."
"Do whatever you want," Emily said, annoyed.
"I will." she said.
But it sat heavily in the air.
Emily lifted the second box and walked toward the door. As she passed her sister, their shoulders almost brushed.
"You'll get used to the guest room," her sister said lightly.
Emily didn't stop walking.
The guest room was at the end of the hallway. More Smaller and Plainer. The bed was neatly made, untouched, like it had been waiting.
She placed the boxes down and stood still for a moment.
Then she started unpacking slowly.
Just the essentials.
A few clothes in the closet. Her charger is on the desk. A small notebook in the drawer.
She sat down on the edge of the bed.
It was quiet.
A knock came at the door.
"Yeah?" she said.
Her mom stepped in halfway. "Are you settling in?"
"I guess."
Her mom looked around briefly. "It's not that bad."
"I didn't say it was."
There was a pause.
"You know why we did this," her mom continued. "She needs time to adjust."
"I understand."
Her mom studied her face. "Youre acting like we're the bad ones."
Emily looked down at her hands. "I said it's fine."
"It's temporary," her mom added. "Don't make this bigger than it is."
Emily nodded once. "Okay."
Her mom gave a small sigh and left.
The door stayed slightly open.
,
Emily leaned back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Voices drifted faintly from down the hallway. She couldn't make out every word, but she recognized her sister's voice, light and amused.
She stood up quietly and walked toward the hallway.
Her old room door was open.
Her sister was inside with their mom.
"I think the bed should go here," her sister was saying. "It feels more open."
"That's a good idea," their mom replied.
"It'll make the room brighter."
Emily stood there for a second.
Her sister noticed her first.
"Oh," she said. "We were just figuring things out."
Emily nodded. "I can see that."
"Do you think this desk should stay?" her sister asked. "Or was it important to you?"
"It's just a desk."
"Okay," her sister replied. "Then I'll move it."
Their mom looked at Emily. "See? We're just rearranging. Should I come and help you"
No I'm fine.
She turned and walked back toward the new room.
Later that evening, they all sat at the dining table.
Her sister sat in Emily's usual spot.
"Oh," her sister said quickly, pretending to notice. "Was this your seat?" trying to sound as innocent as possible.
Emily paused for half a second. "It's fine."
"No, no," her sister said. "I don't want to take your place."
Her dad waved his hand dismissively. "Sit wherever. It's not assigned."
Her mom added, "Emily, you can sit on the other side."
Emily moved without arguingvp.
Dinner continued.
Her sister talked about school, about adjusting, about how everything felt new.
Her parents listened closely. Asked questions. Nodded.
Emily ate quietly.
At one point, her sister turned to her.
"Do you think I'll like it here?" she asked.
"You're already here," Emily replied.
"That's not what I meant."
Emily looked at her plate. "You'll be fine."
Her sister watched her for a second longer before turning back to the conversation.
After dinner, Emily returned to the guest room.
She closed the door this time.
She sat on the bed and finally picked up her phone.
The screen lit up almost immediately.
She frowned.
There were several notifications.
More than usual.
She opened social media.
And Saw a headline.
Her chest felt tight, her face crunched up in a ugly way. Still trying to figure out what the headline was about.
She kept scrolling trying to catch up.
And then she stopped.
Everything around her felt distant.
The room fell quiet.
The voices down the hallway dropped.
The faint sound of movement in what used to be her room stopped.
She stared at the screen, trying to process what she was seeing.
She got to a point and froze