I stood at the front door after everyone left and didn’t go back inside straight away

Dear Delyara, The house was suddenly empty and I couldn’t quite cross back into it. I think I needed a border moment. A pause between the morning rush and the next version of the day. Not because I had time. Because I didn’t. That’s usually when I need it most. So I stood there with my keys still in my hand, looking at the quiet hall and the shoes and the school bags and the cup somebody had left on the radiator, and I let the silence settle before I picked the first thing up. There was something honest in that pause. Like my body was saying, if I’m going to keep carrying this life today, I need one proper breath before I do.