Seraphina stood outside the bedroom door for almost five minutes before finally gathering the courage to knock. Silence answered her at first.
Then came her mother's tired voice from inside, "What?"
Seraphina swallowed hard before slowly pushing the door open. The sight that greeted her made her chest tighten instantly.
Suitcases. Two large ones lay open on the bed while clothes were neatly folded inside them. Drawers had been emptied halfway. Jewelry boxes sat open on the vanity table.
It looked permanent.
Her mother stood beside the wardrobe quietly packing dresses into one of the suitcases without even glancing at her.
Seraphina's fingers tightened against the door handle.
"What's going on?" she asked softly.
No answer came immediately. The only sound inside the room was the rustling of clothes and the faint noise of traffic outside the apartment window.
Her mother finally sighed, "I was going to tell you eventually."
