Clare POV:
That was the most unsettling part of it all. My parents—who were usually so busy, always working or out with friends—suddenly had all the time in the world for me. They were constantly home. Like, always. I never knew where they went. I couldn't remember the last time they'd had to leave for something—work, errands, anything.
It was like they never left. They were always in the house, sitting in the living room, making dinner, asking about my day. When I'd ask about their schedules, they'd just smile and say they'd cleared their calendar for me, for us. It was sweet, I guess, but it felt off. So off. Especially since they'd never been like this before. My mom had always been the kind of person who had a hundred things on her plate. But now? It was like she couldn't tear herself away from me. Ever.
