"My mom''s calling me!"


    Briony shot to her feet, ready to rush over, but Ferdinand reached out and caught her by the wrist just in time.


    It was a mild season in the old town, and Briony wore only a short-sleeved shirt. Ferdinand''s hand was warm and dry against her skin.


    She paused, gaze dropping to his hand on her wrist-long, slender fingers, knuckles sharply defined.


    Noticing her nce, Ferdinand quickly let go. "Sorry. I just wanted to tell you- don''t go over yet."


    Briony barely noticed, her mind wholly on her mother. "I''m worried she''ll panic if she can''t find me."


    "Let''s wait and watch a bit," Ferdinand said gently. "Give her a moment to respond on her own."


    Briony understood at once. She pressed her lips together and nodded.


    The bedroom door opened. Julia stepped out into the hallway.


    Briony''s eyes locked onto her mother.


    "Bryn..."


    Julia''s gaze swept the living room, immediately catching sight of the new year''s gands strung across the mantel. She nced around, her eyes soonnding on the frosted floral decals clinging to the ss doors.


    "Bryn, Bryn..."


    She walked to the patio doors, pressing her palm to the ss, eyes darting nervously about.


    When she finally noticed Briony and Ferdinand, a sh of panic crossed her face.


    It was obvious-she didn''t recognize Briony.


    The flicker of hope in Briony''s chest faded as quickly as it came.


    Ferdinand caught the shift in her mood and spoke softly, "You''ve done well. Turning the house into a mirror of your childhood home-when Mrs. Hudson woke up to these familiar surroundings, even if she couldn''t consciously remember, it must have made her feel safe. Her anxiety is definitely less intense now."


    Briony watched her mother''s tentative, searching movements and realized he was right. Compared to before, this was real progress.


    "Bryn..."


    Julia pressed her cheek to the ss, whispering Briony''s name over and over. Briony started toward her, moving slowly.


    "Be careful," Ferdinand warned quietly. "If she has another episode, you need to step back right away. Otherwise, she mightsh out again without meaning to."


    Briony nodded, then walked forward, her voice gentle and coaxing. "Mom, look at me. I''m right here, Mom-it''s Bryn."


    Julia blinked, turning toward Briony.


    "Bryn..." She frowned, uncertainty and fear still clouding her eyes.


    "It''s me, Mom."


    Julia retreated a few steps, wary and confused, fixated on Briony. "Bryn, Bryn..."


    Her voice rose, repeating "Bryn" faster and faster, her anxiety mounting.


    Ferdinand stood up immediately. "Stop there. Give her a moment—let her process."


    Briony halted a few paces away, watching her mother closely. "Mom?"


    Julia stared back, not blinking.


    "Bryn..." she murmured. "Bryn...year..."


    She pointed at the window decal. "Bryn...wait for me...holiday..."


    Briony understood. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she nodded hard, her voice choked. "Yes, I''m always waiting for you toe home for the holidays, Mom..."


    Julia frowned, puzzled by Briony''s tears. Tilting her head, she reached up, awkwardly touching the tears on Briony''s face. "Bryn...cry...don''t cry..."


    Briony broke downpletely, sobbing.


    Julia clumsily tried to wipe her daughter''s tears, but the more she wiped, the more Briony cried, and soon Julia grew anxious herself, her face crumpling as she started to cry, too.


    But this time, her tears were different-no longer the frantic, panicked cries of before. She seemed like a lost child, helplessly trying tofort Briony while wiping away both their tears.


    "No crying, Bryn. Don''t cry..."


    Briony pulled her mother into a hug, gently rubbing her back. "It''s okay, Mom. I''m done crying. We''re both okay now."


    "No crying, no crying..." Julia repeated, hugging Briony and patting her shoulder in a soothing, motherly gesture. "Bryn, don''t cry. Bryn, don''t cry..."


    It was only a handful of words, but to Briony, it was everything.


    Within these familiar walls, Julia seemed far more at ease.


    But Ferdinand warned that full recovery would note easily. For now, Julia only recognized Briony; whenever she was lucid, her whole world revolved around her "Bryn."


    Her clear moments didn''tst long-maybe an hour at most before she''d grow drowsy or drift off into confusion again.


    After observing Julia for most of the day, Ferdinand felt confident enough to prescribe a few herbal remedies, which he had Gifford prepare and bring over from the clinic.


    The medicine was bitter, and Julia refused to drink it.


    Briony remembered the old trick Julia used when she was a child-offering a sweet treat after every dose. She dug out a packet of creamy caramels from her purse.


    The moment Julia saw the candy, she obediently swallowed the medicine.


    "Candy! Candy!" she cried, thrusting her hand toward Briony.


    Briony dropped a caramel into her palm.


    Julia beamed, tucking the candy into her pocket. "Bryn, love! Candy, for Bryn, for Bryn!"


    Briony froze, tears welling in her eyes again.


    Her mother, lost in her own world, still remembered that her "Bryn" adored those caramels—and even now, after bravely choking down her medicine, she was determined to save the treat for her daughter.


    Julia might never understand that her little Bryn was all grown up now, a mother herself.