Chapter 2: A Visit from Her Brother

The door to Anastia's private room on the third floor creaked softly as she lay in bed, her nightgown rustling with every movement. She had just drifted off to sleep when a knock at the door broke the silence. Groggily, she threw off the covers and wrapped a robe around her nightgown, padding softly to the door. She hesitated for a moment before opening it. James stood in the hallway, his piercing blue eyes scanning her disheveled appearance. "Anastia, I need to talk to you about something," he said, his deep voice firm but not unkind. Anastia stepped aside, allowing James to enter. He strode into her room, his eyes roving over the space as if searching for something. Anastia followed him, her heart beating slightly faster. She had never been alone with James before, and she felt a flutter of unease. As James moved towards her dresser, his gaze landed on a pair of socks lying on her chair. "Anastia, what's this?" he asked, his voice stern. "You left your socks on the chair. What if someone sees them? What if mom sees them? You know better than to leave your clothes scattered around." Anastia felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she apologized, her eyes dropping to the floor. "I'm sorry, James. I forgot." James sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Just pick them up and put them away, okay? You need to be more mindful of your belongings." Anastia quickly gathered the socks and put them away in her dresser drawer. As she turned back to James, she saw that he was watching her with a serious expression. "Tomorrow, we're going to aunt's house," he said. "Her daughter gave birth, and we're going to visit. We'll be leaving at 9 am. You should wake up early to help mom with breakfast." Anastia nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. She had never been to her aunt's house before, and the thought of spending the day with her family and aunt's new baby made her stomach twist with anxiety. "I'll wake up early, James," she promised, her voice barely above a whisper. James nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he turned to leave. "Good. I'll see you downstairs tomorrow." As the door closed behind him, Anastia let out a sigh of relief. She couldn't help but wonder what the day would bring, and whether she would be able to navigate the complexities of her family's expectations.