PAIGE
The walk over to where my mother sat felt longer than the hallway back from Payton's room. Each step was heavy. I could feel Reomen's gaze on my back, a steady, supportive pressure. I slid into the empty vinyl chair beside her, the plastic sighing under my weight.
Barbara lifted her head. She'd been staring at her hands, but now her eyes, red and weary, met mine. The usual cool calculation was gone, replaced by a naked worry I'd rarely seen.
"How is she?" she asked, her voice thin and frayed.
I took a breath, trying to be the calm one. "She's fine. Resting. She... she told me about the dream. The one she had when she woke up. About Father." I didn't go into all the details about Denki or the confession of love. That was Payton's to share. I just gave her the essence. "She understands what happened. What he is."
Barbara nodded slowly, absorbing it. Then, a heavy silence descended between us. It was thick and awkward, filled with all the things we'd never said.
