The sun had barely moved past its morning stretch when Rose stepped into the house, her heels clicking gently against the familiar floors she called home. She had barely shut the door behind her before Daniel appeared in the hallway, arms crossed, eyes sharp and voice already loaded with accusation.
"Where were you last night?" he asked, not even a greeting in place. "Where did you sleep, Rose?"
Rose blinked, fatigue still lingering behind her lashes. She let out a breath and said as calmly as she could, "I told you, I was with Julian."
Daniel scoffed, his eyebrows arching high. "Really? Because if you were with Julian, then maybe you can explain how a total stranger showed up here late last night—with your phone and your wallet—saying you forgot it with him."
The words hit her like a slap. Her heart skipped. Jonathan? Jonathan came here?
Her brows furrowed in disbelief. "Wait—Jonathan came here? What the hell, how does he even know where I live?"
Daniel's arms flew into the air in frustration. "That's exactly my point, Rose! You tell me you're with Julian, but some random guy shows up holding your stuff like he's your boyfriend or something. Do you know how worried I was?"
Rose's voice rose in frustration, matching his pitch, "I'm fine, Daniel! I came back safe. Julian dropped me off himself, not like I took a damn hike across town barefoot!"
"Oh, and now you and Julian are so tight that he personally drives you home?" Daniel snapped.
She clenched her fists. "I'm the older one here, not you! I get it—you're trying to protect me. I appreciate it, I do, but please! You need to back off a bit. I can handle myself."
Daniel shook his head like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Handle yourself? After what happened to you? After everything you've been through? You still think walking around the city with strange men is 'handling yourself'? Damn it, Rose!"
From the kitchen, Aunty Adeline silently appeared, made herself a cup of tea, and without a word, retreated to her room, gently closing the door behind her. It wasn't the first time these two had clashed like this, and likely wouldn't be the last. She knew when to step in… and when to step back.
The storm inside the living room kept brewing.
"I'm not a child anymore, Daniel!" Rose shouted, her face flushed. "You keep throwing that past at me like I haven't worked every day to forget it. You think yelling at me makes me safer? You think locking me away from the world is protection?"
Daniel's jaw tightened. "You're right, I can't always be there. I can't always stop what's coming. But you damn well better know how to protect yourself when I'm not around!"
"And I will!" she yelled back. "But not like this. Not with you watching every step I take!"
"Then prove it," Daniel growled, his voice lowering but heavy with authority. "Take the training lessons with Aunt Addie. Show me you're really ready to protect yourself. If you want me to believe you'll be fine out there… then stop talking, and start acting."
Rose stared at him for a long moment, her chest heaving with exhaustion and frustration. The room seemed to spin with the weight of it all. But then she nodded sharply.
"Fine," she said, her voice like a blade. "You want me to take the damn training? Then I'll do it. I'll join you tomorrow."
Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed toward her room, slamming the door behind her. Her body hit the bed without even changing her clothes, and she let herself sink into the silence. The headache from the yelling, the pressure, the expectations—it all pressed into her like a thousand bricks. She didn't want to think anymore. She didn't want to feel.
Daniel, meanwhile, stood motionless in the living room, the echo of their argument lingering like smoke in the air. He exhaled slowly, rubbed his temples, then walked to his own room, shutting the door behind him.
Behind her closed door, Aunty Adeline sipped her tea in quiet reflection. Her sharp ears had caught every word—how could they not, with the siblings nearly bringing the walls down? But a small smile tugged at her lips.
So, Rose would begin training.
That was something. That was hope.
Back in her room, Rose's breathing slowed. Her body finally relaxed against the sheets. No dreams, no thoughts—just sleep. Heavy, needed, and overdue.
The storm had passed… for now.