The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the modest cottage where Lauren and her family resided. As the door creaked open, Lauren stepped inside, her shoulders slumping and her expression weary.
Her mother, a woman with a stern demeanour etched by years of hard work, was bustling around the kitchen, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight of her daughter.
"Lauren! There you are." Her mother's voice held a mixture of frustration and concern. "Where have you been all day? The housework has piled up, and you're nowhere to be found."
Lauren's heart sank as the weight of her mother's reproach settled heavily upon her. She knew she had been absent for much of the day, wandering to places she shouldn't have.
"I... I'm sorry, Mother," Lauren's voice wavered. "I just needed some fresh air."
"Fresh air?" Her mother's tone was laced with disbelief. "While there's work to be done?"
