"Mom, you look nervous." Nathaniel spoke, prompting Athena to gaze at her reflection in the mirror again with a hint of vulnerability. She had been staring at her reflection, looking for anything that could provide a sense of calm before the storm.
Upon hearing her son's concern, she closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself. When she opened them again, the remnants of her anxiety had been replaced by a cold, steely determination glinting in her eyes.
Nathaniel continued, unfazed. "You don't have to worry, Mom. We won't let him win." He grasped her hand firmly in his, as Kathleen took hold of her other hand. Their touch was grounding, a reassurance against the mounting pressure she felt.
"We will win this, Mom. It's a done deal. It's inevitable." Nathaniel concluded with a confidence that would have warmed her heart, had she not been so preoccupied with her own swirling emotions.
