As the sun stretched lazily over Glenwood's skyline, the city stirred to life in its usual crescendo—car horns blaring, neighbors yelling across fences, and somewhere in the distance, a dog barking endlessly at nothing. But nestled on a tree-lined street in the middle of the city's buzz, the Baldwin household at number 24 was erupting with a chaos all its own.
It was the first day back to school—a sacred date circled in red on most parents' calendars. For the Baldwins, it was just another morning of racing the clock. Alarms had gone off at 6:30 AM. It was now well past seven.
"JACKSON! You've been in the bathroom for, like, forever!" Harriet Baldwin's voice rang through the upstairs hallway like a fire alarm. Her fists hammered the bathroom door in an aggressive rhythm as she stared daggers at the screen of her phone.
7:15 AM. Fantastic.
"It's picture day! SCHOOL starts in 35 minutes! If I don't get a good photo this year, I swear I'm skipping the yearbook."
The door creaked open at last. Out strolled Jackson, yawning, his brown curls pointing in every direction like he'd just battled a tornado in his sleep. Still in pyjamas, he gave his older sister a casual shrug before strolling right back into his bedroom.
"You've had the entire summer to do nothing." Harriet muttered, spinning on her heel.
She began knocking on every door like a drill sergeant on caffeine. "DOWNSTAIRS in FIVE! If you're not at the car by then, you're walking to school!"
In the kitchen, Aura was already perched at the table, calmly spooning cereal into her mouth like she'd been up for hours. Hair slicked into a neat ponytail, ribbon perfectly tied, she looked every inch the model student. Harriet paused, momentarily comforted.
"At least someone has their life together." she said, grabbing a granola bar from the counter and giving her younger sister a playful pinch on the cheek. "Though maybe next time, wake up your roommate?"
Aura barely looked up. "The fact that I share a room in a six-bedroom mansion is comedy. Wake him up yourself next time."
"Noted." Harriet snapped, biting into the bar like it had personally wronged her.
Footsteps padded down the stairs—Harriet's eyes darted hopefully to the landing.
Not Jackson.
Cody strolled in instead, shirt half-buttoned, backpack slung over one shoulder. He nodded to his sisters, grabbed a bowl, and joined Aura at the table.
Harriet groaned. "Is anyone going to be ready besides me?!"
"Don't look at me." Cody said mid-crunch. "I was ready before you even knocked."
The sound of heels clicking on hardwood signaled a new arrival: Camila Baldwin, mother of five and world-class multitasker, appeared at the foot of the stairs like a scene from a 90s sitcom. She looked polished in scrubs, her hair pulled into a bun, smile warm but unmistakably tired.
"Oh, look at you, Har! All grown up. Senior year—wow." She brushed a hand down Harriet's perfectly ironed blazer. "Do you have your pom-poms? Uniform? Confidence?"
"Yes, yes, and barely.." Harriet said, eyeing the clock. "Can we please focus on the part where we're basically LATE?"
Camila raised her eyebrows, smirking. "Relax. First days are always a mess—tradition, right?"
"Tradition? Mom, it's stress-inducing."
Camila swept into the kitchen, pulled out her phone, and called upstairs, voice sweet but firm. "Jax, darling! If we make it to school before the bell rings, I'll get you all takeaway tonight—Mom's treat!"
A thundering of footsteps followed.
Jackson came barreling down the stairs, this time dressed, backpack swinging behind him. "I'm ready! Let's go!"
Camila caught him by the collar, fixed his crooked tie, and wiped a smudge of toothpaste from his chin with her thumb. "Handsome and perfect. That's my boy. Please stay the whole day today and don't skip any classes.."
Just as they reached the door, she gasped. "Wait! First-day photos! Quick—outside! Grandma's been begging to see them."
A groan of protest echoed through the house like thunder. Harriet planted her feet. "MOM. It's school picture day. Just tell her to check the website!"
Aura crossed her arms, expression cooling. "Besides, Harper's not here. Doesn't feel right without her."
The name lingered like fog in the air.
Harper—the quiet yet sharp-witted middle child—wasn't home. She hadn't been for a while. She was at Warren Mental Institution, undergoing therapy and counselling after what the family only referred to as "the incident." As far as neighbors and friends were concerned, she was "staying with Aunt Julia for a while."
Camila's smile dimmed just a little. She nodded, swallowing her reply.
The remaining siblings filed reluctantly into the car, backpacks stuffed, tempers simmering, and breakfast only half-eaten. Once at school, the older kids disappeared through the gates with a mix of nerves and dread.
Only Jackson and Aura lingered.
Camila turned around in the driver's seat, eyes softening as she brushed her hand through Aura's hair, straightening the ribbon.
"You okay, sweetheart?"
Aura hesitated. "We didn't visit Harper this weekend. You said we could. Did something happen?"
Camila sighed, guilt flickering behind her tired eyes. "The doctors adjusted her meds. She hasn't been feeling well. They said it's best to give her time to rest. But we'll go see her soon. Once she's up to it. Okay? I promise."
Aura nodded silently, then turned her face to the window.
Camila leaned out the window and called after the kids, who had just stepped out of the car.
"Okay, you two—go conquer the day! Be kind, make friends, and remember.. I love you. Smile at people! Big smiles!"
Aura waved slightly. Jackson didn't.
The two younger siblings walked side by side toward the school doors, their shadows long in the morning light. They didn't say anything, but they both knew.
Their mother wouldn't be back in time to pick them up. She never was.