Emma trudged through the rain, every drop soaking into her sweater and weighing her down. She pulled her thin scarf closer and whispered, “Just keep going… one step at a time.”
The steady splash of her boots against puddles was irritating yet comforting—a reminder that movement, no matter how slow, was still progress. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind, growing louder with each step: Tough times don’t last forever. You’re stronger than you know.
It had been months since Emma had last heard her mother’s voice in person, but that phrase had become her anchor. At twenty-three, she had imagined a life filled with stability and purpose. Instead, a sudden car accident a year earlier had taken both her parents, leaving her alone in a world that felt far too large.
