The next evening arrived quieter than the one before. Snow had stopped falling, leaving the world outside the cabin muffled and still. Inside, the air felt different—thicker, expectant. Everyone knew tonight was the start. I’d asked for one night at a time, alone with each of them, and they’d agreed without hesitation. But I hadn’t told anyone who would be first.
Dinner was subdued. Dirk cooked something simple—roasted chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans—but no one talked much about the food. Eyes kept drifting to me. Waiting.
After plates were cleared, we gathered in the living room again. Fire low. Lights dim. I stood near the hearth, hands clasped in front of me, heart hammering so hard I thought they could hear it.
“I’ve decided,” I said.
Silence fell like a blanket.
I lo
