Absolute Blessing [Slow Update]

The silence of the house pressed in on Sue Marie Asillo, a familiar weight. It had been almost a year since she'd left her job, a year since the comfortable rhythm of her life had shattered. Now, each morning was a blur of sameness—sleeping, staring at her phone, the occasional tear.

She rose from her bed, her movements sluggish, and approached the calendar. Another day. She circled it in red, then crossed out the previous one, a ritual only she understood. "A year had passed," she whispered to herself, her voice hoarse, "still a year remains." Her gaze drifted to the worn stuffed bear, her precious gift. She hugged it tight, burying her face in its soft fur, seeking comfort in its unblinking dark eyes. "Oh, you're staring at me again," she murmured, a faint, sad smile touching her lips. "Do I look sad? You think? Please smile." She pinched its nose softly. "I love you."

As she stepped out of her room, her aunt's cheerful greeting felt like a distant echo. "Sue, would you like some breakfast?" Sue merely sat, asking for tea, her aunt's worried gaze following her every move. "Why are you doing this to yourself?" her aunt pleaded, her voice laced with pain. "You don't talk to anyone, you don't leave your room! And for God's sake, Sue Marie, you are neglecting yourself too much!"