…in the shadows, where I could witness the scene unfold without being seen.
They arrived in a convoy of laughter and anticipation, the rented SUV pulling up with the kind of bravado Ethan had always carried into new ventures. Sienna stepped out first, her smile brighter than the sun reflecting off the car’s hood, her hand clutching Ethan’s like a prize. The kids tumbled out next, chattering about their adventures, unaware of the silent storm brewing. Ethan was the last to exit, his eyes scanning the property, searching for the welcome of familiarity.
It took a moment for the realization to settle in—the absence of our home, the stark emptiness that greeted them. I saw the laughter die in Ethan’s throat, saw the confusion knit his brow into a frown. Sienna was the first to break the silence.
