me just aft

quiet space she had fought so hard to protect. When her phone buzzed o

ceived late-

anym

one, heart tightening

's mo

e answered,

the other end - the k

his mother said. "But I did

ught. "Is som

father-in-law. He collapsed tonight. T

lowly, each one hea

a hand to her che

t Ethan is out of town. His pho

osed h

urse

re," his mother continued. "You don't hav

ready knew

ere," she s

s with steady steps, even as emotions tangled in her chest. She hadn't been back here since

ooked relieved w

e whispered, sq

ether in sil

footsteps echoe

ed up -

, eyes searching the room. When his gaze landed on her, surp

li

, neither of

slowly, stopping a c

ame,"

she r

ou, she d

ot for yo

but separated by everything else. When the doctor finally emerged with reas

running a hand

said again, this time more qu

esn't disappear just b

hung bet

cusation n

t t

d in. Ethan's mother insisted she res

she said gentl

hesi

nod

on wasn't

t who she w

e window, watching the sky ligh

e said. "But I'm

et hi

ed. "That doesn't mea

plied. "But it

rst time, she

eter as the night str

alm, their footsteps fading down long corridors. In the waiting room, tim

given her wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Outside, the sky

away, watching her re

ail felt sharp - the way she rubbed her thumb against the edge of the blanket when sh

ly. "You don't have to sta

turn around

ain - but this tim

ke. "When I left, every

iste

ed. Tired of explaining myself. Tired

est ti

small I had become u

id quietly. "I didn't

ned to

ly. Not d

hon

es anymore," she said

ning that regret is

ding politely. The mom

ir. "Being here tonight do

ied. "But it mean

nsider

said at las

on surprise

The responsibility of the night had quietly drawn them into the same orbit aga

ed me," she said softl

eplied. "That'

"I used to think t

d n

e balanced," she said.

the words wi

," he said. "I want to walk beside yo

him for a

gone - not replaced by desperation, but

ooks like," she said. "But I kn

want you to,

izon, light spilling through

hing stiff muscles. "I s

instinctively,

aid. "For tonight

then looked

ed, "for not asking fo

didn'

't promis

dor, something inside both of them sh

r came next would be different f