Evelyn entered her apartment, the soft click of the door echoing through the dimly lit space. A sigh escaped her lips the moment she stepped inside. The silence was comforting, a stark contrast to the noise and tension that had clouded the evening.
Her eyes immediately landed on her children.
Harper was asleep, snuggled securely in the arms of their new babysitter, Mrs. Emily Brown. The older woman sat patiently on the couch, humming a soft lullaby even as Harper’s tiny fingers twitched in sleep. Meanwhile, Harry lay sprawled on a settee, limbs slanted, one sock halfway off, his soft snores blending with the hum of the air conditioning.
Evelyn’s heart clenched at the sight of peace, of safety, of innocence she was so desperate to protect.
“I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting, Mrs. Bro
