As the vehicle pulls away, Maya wraps her arms around herself, suddenly aware of the morning chill against her skin.
She can feel Jackson's presence behind her, solid and immovable as a mountain, but he doesn't speak.
The silence between them is heavy with unasked questions and unspoken fears. Swallowing thickly, Maya turns on her heels and walks into the house, her steps silent.
From the window above, the children watch the scene with wide eyes, their small hands pressed against the glass. "Mama looks sad," Rose whispers to her brothers.
But the boys only have eyes for Yuri's retreating.
"He's leaving…" Aiden chokes out, eyes clouding over. "He's leaving us here."
Eli sniffles and Rose immediately flushes with sadness, her eyes tearing up.
"I don't want him to go." She whimpers.
