Rewind My Heart

The move was supposed to be a fresh start.
New city, new people, new life.
At least, that was the lie Tiana kept telling herself.

The apartment was modern, perched high above the city skyline, with wide windows and cold marble floors that echoed with every step. It was nothing like the cozy home they left behind and maybe that was a good thing. Maybe forgetting would finally become easier here.

Grace didn’t think so.

She stood in the middle of her new bedroom, arms folded, headphones blaring music loud enough to shake the walls. Boxes sat untouched around her, clothes spilled out like a silent protest.

Tiana hovered by the doorway, trying again to be patient.

"Grace," she called, forcing a smile. "Come help me unpack."

Grace yanked out an earbud and turned slowly, her eyes filled with disdain. "I didn’t ask to move here."

Tiana bit her tongue. Stay calm. Stay calm.

"I know, sweetheart. But this is for the best. A new school, a new start..."

"A new prison," Grace snapped, crossing the room in two strides. She shoved a box off her bed, letting it crash to the floor. "You’re ruining my life, and you don’t even care."

Connor appeared behind Tiana, his voice low. "That’s enough, Grace."

Grace laughed bitterly. "Of course, Daddy comes to the rescue. Always cleaning up your messes, Mom?"

Tiana’s hands shook at her sides. Her nails dug into her palms, leaving little crescent shaped marks. "I'm trying my best," she said quietly.

Grace rolled her eyes. "Your best sucks."

Tiana felt the slap of those words like a physical blow.

"Go to your room," Connor said sharply, stepping between them.

"I am in my room," Grace hissed.

"Thanks to her."

The door slammed with a force that rattled the walls.

Tiana stood frozen in the hallway, staring at the wood like it had personally betrayed her.

Connor placed a hand on her shoulder. "Give her time," he murmured.

Tiana laughed, but it sounded hollow and broken. "Time won't fix this, Connor. She hates me."

"No," he said firmly. "She’s hurting. It’s not the same."

Tiana leaned into his chest, letting herself cry silently against him, the weight of everything crashing down all at once..the son she lost, the daughter slipping further away, the lies she buried so deep she couldn’t find her way back to the truth.

In the room behind the closed door, Grace sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the tiny gold bracelet she stole from her mother’s drawer weeks ago.

She traced the name engraved on it with her finger:
*Liam*

She didn’t know who he was.
But she intended to find out.
..............

The next morning, the city was still wrapped in a chilly mist as Tiana pulled the car into the school parking lot.
Grace didn’t say a word the entire ride.

She climbed out without waiting for a goodbye, slamming the car door hard enough that a few nearby students turned to look. Tiana watched her disappear into the crowd, heart sinking lower than she thought possible.

Please, just let her have a good day, Tiana whispered to herself before driving away.

Inside the school, the hallways buzzed with life...laughter, locker doors banging, sneakers squeaking against the polished floors.