I thought the hidden door was just a design flaw, until I noticed the tiny handprint smeared in fresh drywall dust.
/
Chapter 10 / 10
Chapter 10
It was Ethan’s tenth birthday.
The house was filled with balloons and laughter.
His friends ran through the halls.
The table was covered in cake and gifts.
When it was time to blow out the candles, Ethan looked at me and his dad.
“I don’t need anything else,” he said.
“I have everything right here.”
Later that night, we sat on the porch watching the stars.
William took my hand.
“Home isn’t a place,” he said softly.
“It’s the people who show up when it matters most.”
I leaned my head against his shoulder.
Ethan curled up beside me.
Somewhere in the quiet, I knew—justice was done.
The fear was gone.
We were safe.
May you like
We were loved.
And we were finally whole.
