In the dimly lit motel room, the air hung heavy with the pungent aroma of marijuana. Alice lounged on a threadbare couch, her mind drifting aimlessly amidst wisps of smoke curling lazily towards the cracked ceiling. The flickering TV in the corner murmured faintly, its glow casting eerie shadows across the cluttered room.

Just as Alice was lost in her solitary haze, a familiar, tentative knock echoed through the silence. Startled, she glanced towards the door, her heart skipping a beat. "Who could that be?" she wondered aloud, momentarily forgetting that visitors were a rare occurrence in her world.

With cautious steps, Alice approached the door, her senses tingling with a mixture of apprehension and fleeting hope. She pulled back the bolt, and there stood Anna, her younger sister, radiant and poised despite the late hour and the dubious surroundings.

Anna's eyes flickered with concern as they settled on Alice's disheveled appearance and the faint haze that enveloped her. "Hey, Ali," she said softly, her voice a blend of sympathy and unspoken questions.

Alice's lips curled into a fragile smile, relief washing over her at the sight of Anna. In that moment, amidst the stale motel air and the remnants of her indulgence, Alice felt a surge of warmth – the comforting presence of the one person who had never given up on her.

"Hey, Anna," Alice murmured, her voice hoarse yet filled with a rare clarity. As she ushered Anna into the room, closing the door behind them, Alice knew that despite everything – her failures, her struggles, and the endless battles she fought – Anna remained her unwavering beacon of hope in the darkness.