The door creaked open quietly as morning light spilled into the room.
Martha stepped inside, balancing a tray of food in her hands.
"Morning, sweetheart," she said softly, her voice warm. "Brought you something to eat."
Lily sat curled up in bed, her eyes wide and hollow. She hadn't slept at all.
As Martha got closer, she saw the dark circles around her eyes and her smile faltered. She set the tray down on the table and crouched beside the bed.
"You didn’t sleep, did you?" she asked gently.
Lily stayed silent, fiddling with the blanket.
Martha sighed, brushing hair from Lily’s forehead.
"Lily, talk to me. What’s wrong?"
Lily turned her neck away, her lips pressing together tightly.
That’s when Martha noticed it.
A small mark, faint but unmistakable, peeked out from the side of Lily’s neck.
Martha froze.
Slowly, she reached out and brushed Lily’s hair back, revealing the mark fully.
"Lily..." she whispered, stunned. "Is that—?"
