The discovery left me in a state of shock, a cold dread settling in the pit of my stomach. My thoughts were a tangled mess, each possibility more frightening than the last. I needed answers, but one thing was clear: confronting Emily directly might not be the best first step. She was a sweet girl, after all, and whatever was happening, it was likely more complicated than I could understand in that moment.
I spent the rest of the afternoon planning my next move. By evening, I had convinced myself to talk to Michael. I hesitated, not wanting to alarm him, but I trusted that he might shed some light on the situation. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I found myself walking back to the guest house, my heart pounding with each step.
Michael answered the door, his face lighting up with a warm smile. “Mom! Didn’t expect to see you again today. Everything okay?”
