I entered the quiet house, mom was working late and dad was still out on business until the end of the week. Times like this, I wished I had a sibling to keep me company. I dropped my backpack by the door and listened to the stillness that wrapped around me like a thick blanket. The only sound was the faint ticking of the clock in the hallway, each tick echoing the solitude I felt. I wandered into the living room, where the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the floor, and the dust motes danced lazily in the golden light.
I plopped down on the couch, sinking into the cushions. The remote lay on the coffee table, but I hesitated. Watching TV felt too empty without someone to share it with. I thought about how nice it would be to have a brother or sister to argue over the remote w
