Every weekday afternoon followed the exact same script. The school bus stopped at the corner at 3:41 p.m., Chloe walked up the driveway quietly, pushed open the front door, dropped her backpack wherever she stood, and hurried straight down the hallway without even looking at me.
“Hi, Mom,” she would say automatically while already moving.
Then came the bathroom door.
Click.
Lock.
Water running within seconds.
At first, I smiled at the predictability of it. Chloe had always loved warm baths when she was younger, especially after long days outside. I assumed recess left her sweaty or uncomfortable. Sometimes parenting means choosing not to overanalyze harmless quirks.
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