Twinge of excitement

Iris stirs awake, blinking her eyes groggily as sunlight filters in through the window. She feels a bit disoriented and groggy, her mind still caught in the limbo between sleep and waking. She sits up in bed and rubs her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and remember what day it is.

As her mind starts to clear, the events of the day before come flooding back to her, filling her with a sense of unease and discomfort. She remembers the encounter with the lecherous men, the way they stared at her like a piece of meat, the way they spoke to her with such blatant disrespect and entitlement.

In spite of the uncomfortable memories of the previous day, Iris can't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of the party she has been invited to. She knows it will be a chance to showcase her talent and perhaps make some new connections and opportunities in the music industry.

Iris finishes getting dressed and gives herself a once-over in the mirror. Satisfied with her appearance, she makes her way to the breakfast table, where her mother has already started preparing breakfast. As she takes a seat, her mother smiles warmly at her and motions to the plate of food in front of her.

Iris joins her mother and sister at the breakfast table, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity in their presence. Her mother serves up a steaming plate of eggs, bacon, and toast, and Lara pours them each a tall glass of fresh orange juice.

As they eat, conversation flows easily between them. They talk about the previous day's events and the plans for the day ahead. Iris's mind occasionally drifts to the party, but she tries to stay present in the conversation and enjoy the moment with her family.

Iris turned to her mother, who was looking at her with a hint of concern in her eyes.

Her mother said: "You came back pretty late last night, Iris. Is everything okay?"

Iris swallowed a bite of bacon, a little taken aback by her mother's sudden question. "Everything's fine, mom," she said, trying to sound casual despite the lingering memories of the day before. "I was just out a bit late that's all."

Iris's mother looks at her a little longer, a small frown creasing her forehead. "Are you sure, honey? You seem a little off." She reaches out and puts a hand on Iris's arm.

Iris tries to shrug it off, but the worried look on her mother's face makes her feel a pang of guilt. "Seriously, mom, I'm fine," she says, trying to infuse her voice with a bit more conviction. "Just tired, that's all."

Her mother looks at her, still worried, and asks gently, "You know you can talk to me, right? Why were you out so late?"

Iris hesitates for a moment, not sure how to respond. She doesn't want to worry her mother unnecessarily, but at the same time, she feels a desperate need to talk to someone about what happened. "I...I was at a club," she says finally.

Her mother raises an eyebrow, clearly a bit surprised. "A club? What were you doing there so late?" She sounds more curious now than worried, but there's still a hint of concern in her eyes.

Iris fidgets awkwardly with her utensils, feeling a little guilty at the lie. "I...I was just hanging out with some friends, that's all," she says, avoiding her mother's gaze. She hates lying to her, but she's not sure how to explain what really happened last night.

Her mother seems to accept her answer, but there's still a hint of doubt in her eyes. "Okay, honey," she says, "Just be careful, okay? I don't like you being out so late at night."

Iris nods, feeling a bit relieved that her mother seems to have dropped the matter. She takes another bite of her breakfast, her mind still swirling with thoughts about the party and the events of the previous day.

As they finish their breakfast, Iris glances at her mother and asks, "Where's dad? Is he out gambling again?"

Before her mother can answer, Lara chimes in, "He's out at the casino, as usual. He'll be back later today."

Iris sighs inwardly, knowing that her father's gambling habits are a sore point in the family. She knows he means well, but his constant absences and financial irresponsibility have caused tension in the household for years.

Her mother casts a withering glare at Lara, clearly not appreciating her bluntness. She turns back to Iris and takes a deep breath, as if bracing for a difficult conversation.

Her mother puts her hand on Iris's arm and says, "I know your father's habits can be frustrating, sweetheart. But he's doing the best he can, okay? He's just got a problem with gambling, that's all."

Iris nods, knowing that her mother is just trying to make excuses for her father's behavior. But she doesn't want to argue or cause any further tension, so she just sighs and says, "I know, mom. It's just...it's hard sometimes, you know?"

Iris nods again, but deep down she feels a pang of resentment at her mother's words. It's always the same with her father - excuses and half-hearted apologies, but never any real change. She knows her parents love her, but sometimes it feels like they're more concerned with protecting her father's feelings than with addressing his problems.

Her mother senses her reluctance and gives her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Just try to remember that your father still loves you, okay? He's just dealing with his own demons, that's all."

Iris can't help but feel a little angry at her mother's words. "I know mom, but sometimes it feels like he loves the casino more than he loves us," she says, her voice edging on a pout.

Her mother sighs, looking pained. "It's not that he doesn't love us, honey. He just...he has a problem. A sickness, if you will. It's not easy for him to control it, just like it's not easy for any addict to control themselves."

The conversation moves on to other topics, the uncomfortable subject of her father's gambling addiction being put aside for now. But Iris can't help but feel a lingering sense of frustration and disappointment. She knows her mother is only trying to be understanding, but sometimes it feels like the whole family is just enabling her father's behavior instead of trying to help him overcome it.

Iris glances at the clock and says, "Oh shoot, I'm going to be late for work today."

Her mother looks up from the dishes, concern etched on her face. "Are you sure you have to go in today, honey? You look a little tired, maybe you should take the day off."

Iris shakes her head firmly, stubborn determination in her eyes. "No, I can't afford to miss work. I need the money."

Iris casts a meaningful glance at her mother and says, "I might come back a little late tonight. I have an important meeting with some industry people. I'll make sure to be safe though."

Her mother frowns slightly, looking worried again. "Be careful, honey. You're not going out to another club, are you?"