The return home
The tires of Daisy's black car crunched against the gravel as she slowly drove up the long, familiar driveway. The mansion sat ahead, looming in the distance, a reminder of everything she had left behind. It wasn't the mansion itself, though, that made her heart ache—it was the memories that clung to it like dust. The laughter, the quiet evenings by the fireplace, the way her mother would scold her for staying out too late, the warmth of family that had seemed like a distant dream when she left.
It had been three years.
Three years spent training, bleeding, becoming someone else. A woman who was capable of killing without hesitation, who could disappear into shadows, take on new identities, and leave nothing but blood and broken promises in her wake. She had survived, and for that, she was proud. But as the house loomed larger, her pride began to shift, and what she felt was something altogether different—a quiet unease. Would she still fit in this place? Or was it a memory now, something that belonged to a different life?
Her fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter as the mansion drew closer, each turn of the tires on the old gravel reminding her of the time she had spent away. The car came to a stop in front of the house, and Daisy's pulse quickened.
Her mother had no idea she was coming. Daisy hadn't bothered to call. She didn't know what to say. What was there to say after everything? But as she opened the door of the car and stepped out, the first thing she felt was the air—the fresh, crisp air of home, mingling with the faint smell of wood and earth.
Daisy stood for a moment, breathing it in, before slowly walking toward the front door. It creaked open just as she reached the steps.
"Daisy?"
Lucy's voice wavered on the edge of disbelief, and Daisy's heart twisted. She hadn't heard her mother's voice in years, and it sounded so much like it used to—warm, full of surprise, and deep, desperate relief.
Without warning, Lucy appeared in the doorway. Her face was a mixture of shock and joy, her eyes wide, brimming with tears. She hesitated for a second before rushing forward, arms outstretched.
"Daisy!" her mother cried, a sob escaping her lips. "My God, is it really you?"
Daisy froze for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She hadn't prepared for this. She had never imagined the moment would actually happen, had always thought of returning as something distant, a faraway goal rather than a tangible reality. But now, as her mother enveloped her in a tight hug, she felt something stir within her—something soft and vulnerable.
"Of course it's me, Mom," Daisy muttered, her voice hoarse. She wasn't sure whether it was because of the shock of the moment or something deeper, some unhealed wound that she'd left buried all this time. "I'm home."
She felt her mother's arms tremble around her. Daisy had never been good at showing emotion, never allowed herself to, but standing there in her mother's arms, she felt her walls start to crack, just a little. Her mother pulled back slightly, her hands still resting on Daisy's shoulders as she stared at her.
"You look different," Lucy whispered, her voice a little shaky, but full of awe. "You've… changed so much."
"I know," Daisy replied, her voice betraying her as it cracked. She swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond, and quickly averted her gaze. "I've been… busy."
Lucy's face softened, but the sadness was there, lingering in her eyes. "I can't believe you're here. I've missed you so much, Daisy. You've been gone for so long."
The words stung more than she expected. She hadn't wanted to hurt her mother. She hadn't wanted to stay away, but the life she'd stepped into, the one she was meant for, had consumed her.
Daisy took a deep breath and nodded. "I know, Mom. I'm sorry. I… I just had to do this."
Lucy studied her for a long moment, her face softening with understanding, though the hurt was still there. "I understand, but you could've reached out. I worried every single day. You've been gone for so long, and I had no idea if you were okay."
The words hit her harder than expected, but Daisy didn't show it. She knew her mother had been worried, but there had been no room for regrets. No room for distractions.
"I'm fine now," Daisy finally said, offering a faint smile. "I'm back."
"Come in Bby"Lucy hushed her in with smiles on her face.
Inside the house, everything was just as she remembered. The long hallway, the dim lighting in the kitchen where she used to sit and eat with her mother, the living room filled with antique furniture. There was a slight smell of dust in the air, as if the house had been waiting for her return. The familiar pictures on the walls, the old portrait of her mom and brother that had always been just beyond reach—it was all still here, untouched, as though frozen in time.
"Am so happy, go take a bath let me prepare your favorite" Lucy pushed Daisy lightly as she rushed into the kitchen.
"Ohk mom" Daisy could not help but laugh at her mom childish attitude.
Moving up the stairs Daisy entered her familiar room.
She did a quick tour around her room before moving to the bathroom to take a shower.