Prologue
The house on Maple Street was never just a house—it was a home. A place where laughter echoed through the hallways, where stories were told over dinner, where the smell of fresh cookies baked by her mother always seemed to linger in the air. It was a place full of memories, built by the hands of her parents and nurtured with love.
Prologue
The house on Magnolia Street had always been a constant in Lily’s life. It stood at the end of a row of colorful homes, nestled between a flowering cherry tree and an old oak that had weathered many seasons. The house was small but warm, with windows that invited the sun in and walls that cradled laughter, arguments, and memories of family.
Prologue
There was something timeless about the old family cabin by the lake. It had been passed down through generations, its wooden walls filled with stories that none of them had ever really told. The lake itself seemed to hold memories, shimmering in the sunlight and reflecting everything it had witnessed: births, weddings, laughter, fights, and the quiet moments of life. It was a place where, no matter how much time passed, the pull of family always felt the strongest.
Prologue
It had been nearly a decade since the family had last gathered at the old house. The place where they had shared countless moments of joy, sadness, laughter, and love—now stood silent, like a monument to the years that had passed. The windows, once filled with the warmth of sunlight, now looked dark and unwelcoming. Yet, for Claire, the house would always hold the essence of her childhood, even as everything around it had changed.
Prologue
The old oak tree stood at the edge of the family farm, its branches stretching wide like a protective embrace. Every time Emma visited, she would sit beneath its shade, feeling the cool breeze that whispered through the leaves. The tree had been there for as long as she could remember, a silent witness to the passage of time, to the growth of the family, and to the changes that had come, both painful and joyful.
Prologue
It was a crisp autumn day when Sarah stood outside the family house, the wind tugging at her scarf. She had never imagined this day would come—the day when she’d have to leave, when she’d have to step away from the only home she’d ever known. The house wasn’t just a structure; it was a repository of memories, of laughter and tears, of birthdays and holidays, of ordinary moments that had once felt so big.
But today, as she looked at the house, now emptied of its familiar contents, Sarah understood something she hadn’t fully grasped until now: sometimes, family wasn’t about where you were, but who you had with you.
Prologue
The sun was setting over the horizon, casting an orange glow across the backyard. Lila sat in the old wooden swing, her feet gently pushing against the ground. The creaking of the ropes was the only sound she could hear, as if the world had paused, allowing her a moment to reflect. The house, once bustling with activity, now stood silent, its rooms echoing memories of laughter, arguments, and shared dreams.
She had spent most of her life here, in this small town, with the family she had always thought would be by her side forever. But things had changed—people had changed. The dynamics of their family had shifted in ways Lila never expected.
The smell of fresh flowers from the garden drifted into the house as Olivia carefully placed a new vase on the dining table. It was a small ...
