"What happened? It's unlike you to come back without all the things on your list," Eleanor asked, once again being as observant as ever. Aurora cursed herself internally for underestimating her mother as someone who was always perceptive. She hesitated for a moment and fumbled over her words, trying to explain the best way to convey what had happened.
Her mother, sensing her uncertainty, stared at her with a furrowed brow, waiting for her to use her popular phrases like 'I am fine,' 'it's nothing,' or 'I am just tired, that's all.' For a while, she had noticed how Aurora used these phrases to deflect and avoid talking about her emotions. But this time, she wasn't going to let that happen. This time, she wanted her daughter to feel safe enough to be honest, to be vulnerable.
