"My mom's calling me!"

Briony shot to her feet, ready to rush over, but Ferdinand reached out and caught her by the wrist just in time.

It was a mild season in the old town, and Briony wore only a short-sleeved shirt. Ferdinand's hand was warm and dry against her skin.

She paused, gaze dropping to his hand on her wrist-long, slender fingers, knuckles sharply defined.

Noticing her glance, Ferdinand quickly let go. "Sorry. I just wanted to tell you- don't go over yet."

Briony barely noticed, her mind wholly on her mother. "I'm worried she'll panic if she can't find me."

"Let's wait and watch a bit," Ferdinand said gently. "Give her a moment to respond on her own."

Briony understood at once. She pressed her lips together and nodded.

The bedroom door opened. Julia stepped out into the hallway.

Briony's eyes locked onto her mother.

"Bryn..."

Julia's gaze swept the living room, immediately catching sight of the new year's garlands strung across the mantel. She glanced around, her eyes soon landing on the frosted floral decals clinging to the glass doors.

"Bryn, Bryn..."

She walked to the patio doors, pressing her palm to the glass, eyes darting nervously about.

and Ferdinand, a flash of panic

obvious-she

in Briony's chest faded as

Turning the house into a mirror of your childhood home-when Mrs. Hudson woke up to these familiar surroundings, even if she couldn't consciously remember, it must have made her feel safe. Her anxiety is definitely

her mother's tentative, searching movements and realized he was right. Compared to before, this

"Bryn..."

cheek to the glass, whispering Briony's name over and over. Briony

"If she has another episode, you need to step

then walked forward, her voice gentle and coaxing. "Mom,

blinked, turning toward

She frowned, uncertainty and fear still

"It's me, Mom."

wary and confused, fixated on

rose, repeating "Bryn" faster

"Stop there.

away, watching her mother closely.

stared back, not

"Bryn..." she murmured. "Bryn...year..."

pointed at the window

hard, her voice choked. "Yes, I'm always waiting for you to

by Briony's tears. Tilting her head, she reached up, awkwardly touching the tears on

broke down

she wiped, the more Briony cried, and soon Julia grew anxious herself, her face crumpling

were different-no longer the frantic, panicked cries of before. She seemed like a lost child, helplessly trying to comfort Briony while wiping

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