The drive into the countryside was quiet. Kairo kept his hands steady on the wheel, eyes on the road, while Arielle sat beside him, her fingers lightly brushing the edge of the car door. They didn’t speak much. Words weren’t necessary yet.
For Arielle, this was heavier than anything she had anticipated. It wasn’t just a trip. It was a step into the past. A past filled with grief, guilt, anger, and unanswered questions. She had agreed to this visit only because she wanted to face it with Kairo, to finally draw a line under the pain that had shaped so much of their early life together.
Kairo, meanwhile, drove with quiet determination. He didn’t talk, didn’t distract, didn’t offer platitudes. He knew better than anyone that words would not fix this. Actions would. Silence, respect, presence
