Lily's eyes darted around the playground, searching for an escape from the stifling heat and the crushing disappointment of her mother's words. She noticed a figure sitting on a swing, seemingly unfazed by the sound of children playing nearby. The stranger's stillness was like a beacon in the chaos, their posture elegant, almost regal amidst the squeaking metal and the smell of freshly baked asphalt.

As Lily drew closer, she realized the figure was a young woman with long, wavy hair that shimmered in the sunlight. She wore...