Janice

*The scent of lemon polish filled the air as I stepped into the hallway, where she was diligently wiping down the antique console table. She was humming softly, a sweet, low melody. As my footsteps grew closer, the humming stopped abruptly. *

She straightened up, her back still to me, her shoulders tensing almost imperceptibly. When I was just a few feet away, she slowly turned, her hands clasped in front of her. Her eyes, usually so composed, were wide with a mix of surprise and a vulnerability she couldn't quite hide, a silent question lingering in their depths.

Oh, I didn't hear you come in

she murmured, but the faint color rising in her cheeks told a different story.