Granny’s voice breaks the silence, her tone sharp and weary. "Why must you always make such a mess? Can't you see I'm tired? You're just like your mother—useless!" The words sting, but Ness glances at Arth, their hands brushing for comfort. Dust motes float lazily in the dim light, as if time itself hesitates to move forward.
Arth whispers, her voice trembling. "Do you think Granny was always like this? Or did something break her heart before us?" Ness sighs, tracing the edge of the blanket with her finger. "I don't know. But I wish she would just… love us, instead of hurting us all the time." The room feels both safe and suffocating, their bond growing stronger with each shared secret in the dark.
Granny’s shoulders shake, her back turned. Ness hesitates, then steps closer, placing a tentative hand on her arm. "Granny… are you okay?" For a moment, the older woman’s mask slips, revealing a flash of pain before she shrugs away the comfort. The sunlight catches in her gray hair, and for the first time, Ness wonders what storms Granny has weathered alone.
Arth sits at the kitchen table, sorting through old photographs. "Look at her, Ness. She was beautiful—and happy, once. I wish we could have known her before the world made her hard." Ness nods, a gentle resolve in her eyes. "We can't change her past, Arth. But we can choose what we carry into our future."
Ness hums a lullaby, her voice steady and warm. Arth smiles, watching her sister with pride. "We're doing it, Ness. We're giving them something better. The cycle ends with us." Outside, cherry blossoms drift past the window, a symbol of renewal and hope.
Ness lays a gentle hand on Arth’s shoulder. "Sometimes I still hear her voice in my head. But it doesn’t hurt the way it used to. We made something beautiful out of all that pain." Arth squeezes her sister’s hand, their smiles bright beneath the dappled sunlight. "We did, Ness. And our children will never have to wonder if they are loved."
