The front door opened.
⸻
The sound carried through the house—
sharp.
Unavoidable.
⸻
Elara didn’t turn immediately.
⸻
She stood in the kitchen.
Still.
⸻
Her hand resting lightly on the counter.
⸻
Dinner forgotten.
⸻
Footsteps entered.
⸻
More than one.
⸻
Then stopped.
⸻
Because they saw her.
⸻
Maya moved first—
but paused when she realized something.
⸻
Elara already knew.
⸻
The silence said it.
⸻
Aaron stepped forward slowly.
⸻
“Elara—”
⸻
She turned.
⸻
And that one look—
stopped him.
⸻
Not anger.
⸻
Not tears.
⸻
Worse.
⸻
Control.
⸻
“You saw it,” he said.
⸻
Not a question.
⸻
A statement.
⸻
Elara nodded once.
⸻
“Yes.”
⸻
A pause.
⸻
Maya shifted behind him.
⸻
“I’m going to—” she started.
⸻
“No,” Elara said quietly.
⸻
Maya stopped.
