Mattew had barely reached the front of the house when he saw Delilah waiting for him. She stood with her arms crossed, her face filled with worry and frustration. The moment she noticed him, she hurried forward without hesitation.
“Mattew!”
For once, he did not step away. Instead, he pulled her into a tight embrace. It was sudden and firm, as if he was holding onto something he might lose at any moment. There was a quiet desperation in the way he held her, something even he did not fully understand.
Delilah froze for a second, clearly surprised, but she quickly relaxed and wrapped her arms around him. Her fingers gripped the back of his shirt.
“What’s wrong?” she asked softly. “What happened?”
Mattew did not answer her question. He only spoke in a low voice. “I need you to stay safe,
