The house did not return to normal after that day.
It became… careful.
Careful laughter.
Careful movements.
Careful conversations that stopped when I entered and resumed when I left.
Not because they wanted to hide anything from me.
But because everybody now understood that my life was no longer just mine.
By Tuesday evening, the real tension began.
Ethan’s parents wanted to see us.
Not just speak on the phone.
See us.
My mother received the call in the living room. She did not put it on speaker, but we could hear the firmness in her tone.
“Yes… I understand.”
Pause.
“No, nobody is denying anything.”
Pause.
“She is here.”
Another pause.
“Yes. We will host you.”
When she ended the call, she remained seated for a few seconds.
Maya and Clara were watching her like students
