The apartment felt quieter than usual when Katherine pushed the door open, her shoulder still weighed down by her work bag. The smell of crayons and faint traces of dish soap lingered in the air, a familiar comfort after a long day. She slipped off her heels, letting them fall neatly by the shoe rack, and loosened her scarf. Her body ached in that way it always did after hours of deadlines and endless calls, but the exhaustion softened the moment she heard small feet pattering across the floor.
"Mom!" two voices sang in unison.
Before she could even set her bag down, Nathan and Maya came bounding toward her, each holding a slightly bent notebook, paper sticking out from the sides. Nathan's hair was a little mussed, his shirt untucked, while Maya's braids had come loose at the ends.
"Hi, guys-" Katherine started, but before she could ask what they were holding, another figure appeared from the hallway.
