The afternoon sun streamed through the large windows, casting light over the living room.
Lucas sat on the couch with Colin nestled beside him, the boy still clinging to his father like he was afraid he might disappear again.
Lily sat cross-legged on the floor in front of them, flipping through the pages of a book, while Desi leaned against the armrest, a soft smile playing on her lips as she watched them.
It felt normal. Almost.
Colin looked up at his father, his small fingers clutching onto Lucas’s sleeve. “Daddy, you’re not leaving again, right?”
Lucas ran his fingers through Colin’s hair, his chest tightening. “Not today, buddy,” he promised. “I’m right here.”
Colin relaxed slightly at the words, but Desi saw the way his little hands trembled, the way his body curled into Lucas
