Chapter 10 - The Final CrosswordThe sun dipped below the horizon, painting the suburban sky in brilliant shades of amber and violet. The house was quiet, wrapped in a deep, unbroken silence that felt less like a prison and more like a sanctuary.
I walked into the kitchen, picked up a fresh cup of coffee, and grabbed the morning newspaper from the counter.
When I walked back into the living room, my mother had the Sunday crossword puzzle spread out on her lap, holding a red ink pen between her fingers just like she had for thirty years.
She looked up, patted the empty space on the sofa beside her, and smiled.
May you like
“Well, don’t just stand there staring, Sergeant,” she teased lightly, her voice steady and clear as crystal. “Word with nine letters meaning ‘absolute freedom’. It’s your turn.”
I sat down beside her, took the pen from her hand, and wrote it down in bold, permanent ink.
