?


    "Okay, thank you for your hard work," N replied.


    "It''s no trouble at all. I''ll get back to cleaning now," the cleaningdy replied.


    N nodded. "Sure."


    The cleaningdy quickly returned to the kitchen, and soon the sounds of ttering came from inside.


    N helped Harrison sit down on the sofa. He looked around the living room with a sense of nostalgia.


    His eyesnded on the lines on the wall that marked N''s height, and he couldn''t help but smile. "N, go stand by that height chart. I want to see how tall you are now."


    Following his gaze, N smiled and walked over to the entrance, leaning against the wall.


    The highest mark barely reached her waist, and Harrison sighed softly. "I remember thest height mark was made by your mother."


    N nodded, a hint of sadness crossing her face. Not long after that line had been recorded, her parents had divorced.


    The day Emerald had left the country, N had been on her way to an out-of-townpetition. She hadn''t even had the chance to say goodbye.


    As Harrison became busier with work, her height was no longer marked on the wall. When thepany finally stabilized, he moved them to arger house.


    Looking back, N thought Harrison had probably been trying to avoid thinking about her mother, burying himself in work during that time.


    Moving away seemed to be an effort to escape painful memories.


    Noticing the somber atmosphere, Damon spoke up. "N, which room is yours? Show me."


    He was curious about what her childhood room had been like.


    N suppressed her sadness and pointed to the room on the left. "This is my room."


    There was a sticker of a cartoon cat on the door. The cat''s ears and paws were missing, leaving behind only a yellowed outline.


    N approached the door, took a deep breath, and slowly pushed it open.


    As soon as the door creaked, memories flooded back-Emerald sitting on the bed, telling her stories to help her sleep on restless nights, guiding her hand gently as she learned to write, staying up all night to care for her when she was sick...


    S


    Blinking back tears, N stepped into the room.


    Damon followed her in, ncing around the small space.


    The room was simple-a solid wooden table, a wooden stool, a bed, and a small wardrobe.


    The bed was covered with an old patterned bedspread and quilt, neatly folded with a small pillow on top. It was clear someone had been keeping the room clean and tidy.


    Damon could almost picture little N sitting at the table by the window, concentrating on her homework.


    He couldn''t help but smile at the thought.


    He sat down on the bed, his long


    legs making it seem smaller than it was, and smiled at N. "Do you have any photos from when you were a kid? I''d love to see what you looked like."


    "Yeah, let me find some," N replied.