Back on the stage, the M.C looked around with a smile. "Where is your mother?"
Aine turned.
Her mother's seat was empty.
Something small and cold moved through her chest but she pushed it aside, gripping the trophy tightly with both hands. She was probably already outside waiting. She was probably already holding the ice cream. Aine jumped down from the stage and ran, weaving through the celebrating crowd and bursting through the doors into the open air.
She saw her mother the moment she stepped outside.
Primrose was crossing toward her, a bright smile on her face, the ice cream already in her hand, already reaching out across the distance between them.
Then the truck came.
It happened in a single, terrible second. One moment her mother was there and then she was not. Primrose stumbled, her foot catching wrong, and she went down just as the vehicle tore through the space where she stood.
The ice cream hit the ground.
"Mumma."
The word came out small and broken, nothing like Aine's voice at all. The trophy slipped from her fingers. The noise of the crowd behind her became distant and warped, like she was hearing it through water.
And then everything went black.
Present
"Aine, open the door. Aine!"
Hilda's voice was tight with panic as she knocked hard against the bedroom door. Nothing came from the other side. No movement, no sound.
"It is locked," she said, turning around sharply.
Tesni was already moving. "Here is the spare key."
She fit it into the lock with trembling hands and pushed the door open slowly.
Aine was on the floor.
She lay completely still, blood trailing from her nose and the corner of her mouth, her face pale against the hardwood. Tesni did not hesitate. She crossed the room and gathered her into her arms, carrying her carefully down to the stage room on the lower floor, the one that had always been kept ready, stocked and sterile like a private clinic for exactly this kind of moment.
The doctor arrived within minutes. He examined her in silence while the family waited just outside the door, none of them speaking, the air between them thin and heavy at the same time.
When he finally stepped out his expression was measured but his eyes carried a familiar weight.
"You all know she is a psychosomatic patient," he said, looking between them. "I have advised you before not to expose her to stress triggers."
"We did not stress her," Hilda said quickly, her voice defensive but laced with guilt.
"What happened in the minutes before she collapsed?"
Tesni swallowed. "We were just having a normal morning. I played a song and she excused herself shortly after."
The doctor was quiet for a moment. "That song triggered a severe stress response in her. Whatever it is, it must never be played around her again." He reached into his coat and produced a small folded paper. "I have prescribed a few medications. She will wake within the next few hours. But I need you all to understand something." He looked at each of them in turn. "Protect her. Always."
The family exhaled together, the word landing somewhere deep and unspoken between all of them.
"Thank you, Doctor."
Later That Afternoon
"Aine."
Her eyes opened slowly, the ceiling coming into focus above her. Hilda stood at the edge of the bed, her expression carrying something softer than usual.
"Mum, I am hungry," Aine said, her voice still rough around the edges.
"I have already served you. Come, let us go."
Hilda helped her up with steady hands and guided her down to the dining hall, settling her into her chair before pushing the plate closer and sitting beside her. She fed her quietly, without fuss, without making it a moment bigger than it needed to be.
When the last spoonful was done Aine sat back and looked at her.
"Thank you, Mum."
"You are welcome."
A beat of silence passed between them. Then Aine spoke again, her voice quieter this time, carrying more weight than the words themselves.
"You have to know that I like you. Just like I like Tesni."
Hilda was not expecting it. She had braced herself for many things over the years but not this, not said so plainly and without condition. Before she could find the right words, Aine leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her.
Hilda held her tightly, blinking against the sting behind her eyes.
"Thank you, Mum," Aine murmured into her shoulder.
"No," Hilda whispered back, her voice barely holding. "Thank you. Thank you for understanding me."
The moment lasted only a few seconds before it was loudly and dramatically interrupted.
"Mother!" Tesni appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes wide with theatrical betrayal. "You are snatching her from me?"
Hilda pulled back and laughed, wiping the corner of her eye quickly. "Come on, Tesni. She is my first born."
Tesni pointed a firm finger at Aine. "I will tousle your hair for this. I cannot dress you anymore, my young lady. You have lost that privilege."
"Then I will dress her myself," Hilda said simply, already rising from her seat.
Sometime later, Aine sat still while Hilda worked on her face with careful, unhurried hands. Tesni hovered nearby, arms folded, pretending not to care while clearly caring enormously.
"My face already feels tired," Aine said flatly.
"Stop misbehaving," Tesni cut in from across the room. "She is almost done."
Hilda leaned back and turned Aine gently toward the mirror.
Aine looked.
For a moment she said nothing, just stared at her own reflection with something close to quiet surprise moving across her face.
"Stop fooling around, Aine," Tesni said, though her voice had softened considerably.
Hilda turned and levelled a look at her. "Tesni, apologize."
Tesni straightened, cleared her throat and turned to her sister with exaggerated grace. "Sorry, Sister Aine. I know you are always more beautiful than I am."
Aine stood and smoothed her outfit, glancing at the time. "I have to leave. It is already 3:30."
Hilda's expression shifted immediately. "Be careful."
"Yes, madam," Tesni added, snapping to attention with a mock salute.
"How will you get there?" Hilda asked, following her toward the door.
"The school president will come for me at the junction."
Hilda paused. "Should a maid follow you?"
"It is fine," Aine said quietly, already moving. "I will walk there myself."