I woke up with a pounding headache… Not the normal “I didn’t sleep well” kind of headache. This one was genuinely heavy… like someone had placed a block of iron on my forehead overnight.
For a few seconds after opening my eyes, I didn’t even remember why I felt this drained.
Then everything rushed back at once.
Aaron…. His voice… his annoyance. His threats… his reminders of the past I had buried with my own hands.
Then Silas…. His face at my door… and the shock on Silas’ face when he saw my son.
I pressed my palms over my eyes.
“God,” I whispered. “Can I breathe? Just one day of peace… please.”
Jayden knocked softly and came in before I could answer.
“Mom?”
His little hair was messy, and his pajamas twisted around his small waist.
He looked so innocent. So unaware of the fire bur
