Caitlyn sank into the couch, her fingers busy sorting through the pile of letters addressed to her—far more than she’d expected. The constant sound of paper crinkling and tearing seemed to repeat endlessly, creating a dull hum in her mind that drowned out the rest of the world. It was as if the room had faded into the background, leaving her alone with nothing but the rustling of envelopes and the familiar, hollow feeling creeping in.

Most of the letters were the same—expressions of sympathy, condolences for her mother’s passing. At first, she had tried to appreciate the kind words, but now they only left a bitter taste. Each one felt like another weight pressing down on her, another reminder of a loss she was already painfully aware of. She didn’t need more people telling her that her mother was gone. Caitlyn knew it too well; it was a reality she faced every day, and she was exhausted by the constant reminders wrapped up in polite words and handwritten notes.