Chapter 39: Akemi's loneliness

Anzu glanced at Akemi, her brow furrowed with worry. Akemi sat on the couch, her eyes cast downward, lost in thought. Anzu could sense the heaviness in the air, a dark cloud of loneliness hovering over her mother. But as memories of their last argument flashed in her mind, she quickly turned away. She's my mother, but she's also the one who…

Shaking her head, Anzu pushed the nagging thoughts aside. "It's not worth it. Why would I care about a woman that had been causing nothing but pain for me? Whatever!"

She left leaving Akemi to herself.

Akemi sighed, her heart heavy with the weight of her friend's absence. Why haven't they reached out? She looked at her phone, hoping for a message, but the screen remained blank. The laughter and warmth they used to share felt like a distant memory, fading away like the autumn leaves.