Evelyn stands just inside the doorway, her suitcase at her feet. Her gaze lingers on a portrait of her as a child, smiling between her siblings. The tension crackles as her mother, Margaret, approaches with a hesitant smile. "It's been a while since we've seen you, Evelyn. I hope you found what you were looking for out there."

Evelyn[/@ch_1] sips her wine, avoiding her brother's glare.] James, her older brother, leans forward, his voice barely masking frustration. "You never cared about what this family stood for. Why even bother coming back now?" "I came back because I needed to see for myself if anything had changed... if I had changed," Evelyn replies, her voice steady but soft.

Evelyn[/@ch_1] sits across from Margaret, their faces illuminated by the warm glow of a desk lamp.] "We always hoped you'd come back into the fold, Evelyn. Your choices—leaving, the career you picked, the friends you made—none of it ever fit what we expected. But I never expected you to be the black sheep of the family." "Maybe I am the black sheep," Evelyn says quietly, her hands twisting in her lap. "But I think it just means I see the world differently. I needed to find my own way, even if it set me apart."

Evelyn[/@ch_1] stands at her old bedroom window, gazing at the wet roses and the stone path winding through the hedges. The air is heavy with the scent of rain and memories.] Claire, her younger sister, slips into the room, her eyes gentle. "I always admired your courage, you know. You left when I couldn't. Maybe being the black sheep isn't so bad after all." "It's lonely sometimes, but it's honest. And maybe that's all I ever wanted—from myself, and from all of you."

"We may not always understand your choices, Evelyn," Margaret says, her voice softer. "But I see now that you've forged your own path. Perhaps that’s something we should be proud of, too." "Maybe we can start over—not with expectations, but with understanding," Evelyn offers, her smile tentative but real. The family nods, the first steps toward healing taken, as sunlight fills the room with gentle promise.