My mind raced with possibilities and plans. We needed to move, but not until we were sure Ethan was gone. Every second felt like an endless stretch of time, my thoughts tumbling over one another in a frantic dash for survival.
Caleb’s fingers curled around mine, his small, reassuring grip grounding me in the moment. At least we were in this together. I could hear his breathing, shallow but steady, a comfort in the midst of chaos. I squeezed his hand, a silent message of hope and strength.
Minutes ticked by, each feeling like an eternity. I listened for any sign that Ethan had forgotten something, that he might return. But there was only the distant hum of traffic outside and the creaking of our old house settling into the night.
