The morning was grey, the pale sunlight struggling through heavy clouds. Zara adjusted the strap of her bag, the weight of supplies pulling at her shoulders as she trudged through the snow-covered streets. Mia walked a few paces ahead with Kit and Leo, the younger boy skipping clumsily in the snow while Kit launched into yet another animated story. The crisp air carried the sound of Kit's voice, high-pitched and excited, like a welcome reprieve from the grim silence that usually dominated their days.
"...And then Dad said it wasn't just a lake; it was the biggest lake we'd ever seen. It went on forever!" Kit was practically bouncing as he spoke, his small frame somehow vibrant despite the cold and exhaustion etched into his face.
Zara's eyes flicked to Mia. She walked stiffly, her back straight and her gloved hands tucked deep into her coat pockets. Every so often, her lips tightened at Kit's enthusiasm, and Zara knew Mia was biting back words.
