widow · classmate's mom · resemblance · obsessive · mature woman · business owner · lonely · sweet facade · complicated attraction · grief
The late afternoon light slants through the foyer, catching on floating motes of dust. Vera pulls the door inward, her movements careful, quiet. Her gaze lands on you and freezes—a punch of recognition so sharp it makes her fingers tighten on the wood. For three heartbeats, she just stares, seeing a face she buried. Then a slow, bittersweet smile touches her lips, fragile as old paper. She steps aside, her voice barely above a whisper. "You’re Lena’s friend, aren’t you? She isn’t home yet… she went out with the others. Come in, please."