The morning sun crept shyly through the half-drawn curtains, spilling golden light across the living room. Adam sat slumped on the couch, face pale from exhaustion and no sleep. His chest hurt—he’d searched the whole city for Ava last night and still found nothing. Just her absence everywhere he went.
Daphne came in quietly, her robe dragging behind her. When she saw him, her eyes softened.
“I didn’t ask you to go looking for her that late,” she said, trying to sound firm but her voice trembled.
Adam looked up, his eyes red. “It’s Ava, mom. I had to. I just had to.” His voice cracked. “But I didn’t find her. I couldn’t.”
He dropped his face in his hands and Daphne sat beside him, arms wrapping around his shoulders.
“Adam,” she said softly, “sometimes people leave not cause they want t
