Shadows
Stella's POV
"Oh Mom, I hate that I can't come with you to grandma's birthday celebration," I said while we shared lunch at our favorite mall restaurant.
"I understand, sweetheart. But she'll absolutely adore your gift, and work comes first. You know responsibility has always been our family priority, Stella," my mother responded with that familiar strength in her voice.
My mother raised me single-handedly after my father abandoned his role. He was the kind of man who appeared sporadically, claiming he wanted to see me, but really just stirring up drama with my mother. Once I turned eighteen, I cut him out completely. I refused to waste energy on a father who only showed up to create chaos and had zero genuine interest in his daughter's life.
"How long will you be gone?" I asked.
