The noise in Mia's house could wake the dead.
Her little brother was dribbling a basketball in the hallway despite being told three times to stop. Her mom was on the phone yelling at the insurance company, and the baby had thrown spaghetti on the wall again.
Mia shoved her feet into her sneakers and grabbed her tote bag off the kitchen chair. "I'm heading to Miss Sarah's!" she called over the chaos.
"Be back before dark!" her mom shouted without looking up.
"Tell her I said hi!" her little sister added between slurps of juice.
Outside, the air was calmer. The bus ride was short, but long enough for Mia to put in one earbud, zone out, and remind herself that this — all of this — was normal.
It was Gia's absence that felt off.
------------------------
Sarah's house was small but cozy. Pale yellow curtains. A flower box in the window with violets that always seemed to survive the weather.
Mia knocked once, then let herself in. "It's me!" she called gently.
"In the kitchen, sweetheart," Sarah's voice replied, soft but firm.
Mia walked in to find her elbow-deep in dishwater.
"You should've waited," Mia said, rolling up her sleeves. "You know I'm dish patrol when I come over."
Sarah smiled. "You've got your own house to worry about, baby."
Mia gently took the sponge from her. "And yet, I'm here. Funny how that works."
They worked side by side for a few minutes in comfortable silence. The kind of silence only people who've seen each other cry can share.
When the sink was clear, Mia grabbed the grocery list from the fridge. "I'll run out and get these now. You need anything else?"
Sarah hesitated. "Could you pick up that cream I use for my knees? The one in the white tub?"
Mia scribbled it down. "Already got it in my head."
Sarah watched her for a moment, eyes thoughtful. "You're a good girl, Mia."
Mia shrugged. "Don't tell anyone. It ruins my rep."
They both laughed softly.
---
Later that evening, as Mia headed back home with shopping bags in one hand and her phone in the other, she typed a quick message to Gia.
Mia: Your mom's doing fine. Don't stress. I got her lavender tea and knee cream.
Mia: Still waiting for those billionaire-in-law updates though…
She tucked the phone away and slipped onto the next bus home.
One world, two lives.
And she was dancing between them like she was born to.