We drove in silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of us. Martinez respected my need to process everything quietly. As we neared my neighborhood, the familiarity of the streets felt surreal, as if I was both coming home and entering a stranger’s world. The morning sky was just starting to lighten, casting long shadows on the quiet houses. My heart pounded as we pulled into my driveway.
The house was still. I took a moment to gather myself, feeling the gravity of what I was about to do. I glanced at Martinez, who gave me a nod of reassurance. “You know where to find me if you need anything,” he said before driving off.
Key in hand, I opened the door, stepping into my own home like an intruder. The air was thick with a silence that was both comforting and unsettling. I moved quietly through the hallway, the familiar creaks in the floorboards echoing my presence. I peeked into Haley’s room; she was still asleep, her soft breathing a small beacon of normalcy amidst the chaos.
