One step at a time.

Lily

As I worked alone in the kitchen late at night, the clinking of pots and pans seemed to echo louder in the empty space around me. The dim light above the sink cast long shadows across the countertops, adding to the eerie atmosphere. I was lost in my own thoughts, stirring a pot of soup absentmindedly, when the sound of footsteps broke the silence.

I turned to see Mrs. Donovan entering the kitchen, her usually stern expression softened into a small smile. My heart skipped a beat; her unexpected presence caught me off guard.

"Good evening, Mrs. Donovan," I greeted, trying to mask my surprise.

She returned my greeting with a nod, her eyes lingering on me for a moment before she spoke. "Lily, I wanted to talk to you," she began, her voice gentle yet tinged with something I couldn't quite place.

"I wanted to apologize for how I spoke to you the other day. I realize I may have sounded rude, and that wasn't my intention."

Her words caught me off guard. Mrs. Donovan was known for her s