Josie Saltzman sat at her desk, the soft glow of her desk lamp casting a warm circle of light over her notebook, where her neat handwriting sprawled across the page in fluid strokes. The rest of the room was a peaceful quiet, save for the rhythmic scratch of her pen. She relished these rare moments of solitude, the only time she felt like she could truly breathe without the constant weight of expectations pressing on her. The stillness was like a balm, soothing her mind, and for once, she didn’t have to be anyone but herself.

She let out a small sigh, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear, before she continued writing, lost in the comfort of the moment. But then, a knock suddenly echoed from the door, interrupting the silence.

“Come in,” Josie called, her voice laced with reluctant curiosity, her pen hovering in midair, as if the very act of speaking could somehow pull her away from the calm she had found. She turned her attention to the door, waiting to see who would interrupt her solitude this time.