Chapter 83Leon pushed open the front door, the late afternoon light casting long shadows across the hallway. His backpack felt heavier than usual, the weight of the day pressing down on his shoulders like an invisible hand. His knees ached faintly under the bandages, and the low-grade exhaustion from the fever made every movement sluggish. He kicked off his shoes quietly, hoping to slip upstairs without drawing too much attention.His mother was in the kitchen, the soft clink of dishes and the faint smell of dinner simmering on the stove filling the air. She turned when she heard the door, wiping her hands on her apron with a gentle but tired smile.“Leon, you’re home,” she said, voice soft. “How was school today?”“Fine,” he muttered, keeping his head down as he headed for the stairs. “Just a normal day.”She stepped closer, eyes scanning his face with that familiar maternal concern. “There’s a student waiting for you upstairs. He said you two have a study session. Tall boy, very co
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