Lauren Stayed With Her Sister for Two Nights

The house became strangely quiet.

Daniel told Maya he and Lauren needed time to talk.

Maya immediately felt guilty.

“Is she leaving because of me?”

“No.”

“But—”

Daniel interrupted.

“This isn’t your job to fix.”

Maya didn’t argue.

When Lauren returned, she didn’t come upstairs immediately.

That evening, she asked Maya to sit with her in the living room.

Lauren looked uncomfortable.

“I owe you an apology.”

Maya waited.

“I should never have touched your room without talking to you.”

Maya nodded.

“And I shouldn’t have told you your dad agreed.”

That mattered more.

“You lied.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Lauren looked down.

“Because I knew he’d probably say no.”

Maya appreciated the honesty even though she hated the answer.

Then Lauren Said Something Maya Didn’t Expect

“I am jealous of your mom.”

Maya stared at her.

Lauren immediately clarified.

“Not like that.”

She took a breath.

“She was part of your dad’s life before me. She was part of this house. She’s in photographs everywhere. And because she’s gone…”

Lauren struggled to finish.

“…I can never compete with a memory.”

Maya frowned.

“Why would you need to?”

Lauren looked at her.

That question seemed to hit harder than anything Daniel had said.

Maya continued:

“She’s my mom. You’re Lauren.”

“I know.”

“They’re different.”

Lauren nodded slowly.

“I think I forgot that.”