Homeward Pull

Lia’s POV A few months had slipped by like sand through my fingers, and the holiday season was creeping up on us. The air in my office carried that crisp hint of winter, even here in the bustling heart of the city. My phone had been buzzing nonstop—calls from home, voices laced with excitement and expectation. Mom's warm laughter, Dad's gruff reminders about family traditions, and Sam's persistent texts: Come home, sis. We miss you. The holidays won't be the same without you. It had been ages since I'd spent more than a fleeting day there. Sure, I visited once a month, but I always kept it to a quick twenty-four hours—long enough for hugs and home-cooked meals, short enough to dodge the shadows of old confrontations. There were people I was still trying to avoid, ghosts from my past who lingered like unwelcome fog. But my life now? It was a serene rhythm I cherished. The steady flow of work at the firm filled my days with purpose, unchallenged and uninterrupted. Peace. That's all I c