The next morning felt different.
Warmer.
Safer.
Valeria sat at the table, quietly eating.
Her mother placed a cup of milk beside her.
“Thank you,” Carmen said.
Valeria smiled slightly.
“I just skipped a math test.”
Carmen raised an eyebrow.
“We’ll talk about that later.”
They both laughed.
Then Carmen added softly—
“Next time… just tell me the truth.”
Valeria nodded.
“I will.”
Because sometimes…
A small lie can lead to something much bigger.
But sometimes…
It also reveals the strength you didn’t know you had.