Ashes of Forever

Chapter 2

The sun rose quietly over the lands of Greenfield, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink. Morning dew clung to the grass as though the earth itself wanted to hold on to the night a little longer.

In the Daniels’ house, the kitchen was alive again. Grace hummed softly as she stirred a pot of rich pepper stew, the aroma curling through every room. David darted in and out of the house, his wooden toy car clutched in his hand, making engine sounds. Miriam twirled before the mirror, admiring the little ring on her finger.

“See, Mama? Daddy said I should never take it off,” she said proudly.

Grace leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Then you must guard it well, Miriam. Rings are not just metal, they carry love, memory, and promise.”

Michael entered, his traveling bag hanging over his shoulder. “And promises are things Daniels never breaks,” he added with a smile, pulling both children into his arms.

“Now, who’s going to pray for Daddy’s journey?”

David shot his hand up. “Me! Me!” He squeezed his eyes shut, words tumbling out in a rush: “Dear God, keep Daddy and Uncle Peter safe. Don’t let the car break down. And please make them very rich so Mama can buy me a bicycle. Amen.”

“Amen,” everyone echoed with laughter.

Michael looked at his wife, love brimming in his eyes. “You hear that? Even heaven wants me to make this trip.”

But Grace hesitated, watching him longer than usual. She could not explain it, but her heart felt heavy, as if something unseen hovered just beyond the walls of their home.

In front of the Daniel’s yard, samuel paced the front yard, clutching his father’s journal to his chest. His eyes were wide, his breath shallow. He wanted to run again into the Daniels’ house, to shout, Don’t go! The car is cursed! But then his father’s words whispered back: Good is when you do all your Daddy wants you to do.

And what Samuel wanted was simple—he wanted his father to love him, to not abandon him for money. If speaking up meant losing that, could he really do it?

Miriam spotted him from the window. “Mama, Sam is here!” she squealed, dashing outside before Grace could stop her.

Samuel’s face lit up briefly, then darkened again. He ran to her, gripping her small hand. “Miriam, please… tell your daddy not to travel today. Please!”

She frowned. “This again? Why? What’s wrong?”

“I can’t tell you,” Samuel whispered, tears brimming. “Just promise me. Promise you’ll stop him.”

Miriam tilted her head, confusion clouding her innocent eyes. “Samuel, you’re scaring me.”

“Promise me!” His voice cracked, desperation spilling out like water from a broken jug.

Michael stepped outside just then, adjusting his jacket. “What’s all the noise about?”

Samuel froze, journal hidden behind his back. His lips parted, but no words came. Instead, he whispered again to Miriam, almost too soft to hear: “Don’t let him go.”

Michael chuckled, misreading the scene. “What is it, Samuel? Afraid I’ll come back too rich and proud to greet you?”

The boy forced a smile, but his knuckles turned white around the book. He wanted to scream, but fear chained his tongue.

Minutes later, the Daniels family gathered at the car, its polished surface gleaming under the morning sun. Peter and Ruth were already there, their faces painted with false cheer.

“Michael,” Peter said, clapping him on the back, “today we start a new chapter. By the time we return, our names will mean something beyond Greenfield.”

Michael grinned. “And our children will see fathers who dared to dream.”

The children waved, Miriam clutching her ring, David holding back tears though he tried to be brave. Grace pressed herself into Michael’s chest one last time, whispering, “Come back to me. Don’t let the city change you.”

He kissed her forehead. “Nothing could ever change that.” then he kissed her lips and tightly held her.

As the men loaded their bags into the car, Samuel lingered at the edge of the yard, trembling, his father’s journal pressed against him. Every step Michael took closer to the driver’s seat made Samuel’s heart pound louder.

Should he speak? Should he betray his father to save his friend’s family?

He opened his mouth—

And stopped.

The engine roared to life. The car rolled forward. Laughter and waves filled the air.

And Samuel stood frozen, his secret tearing him apart, as the vehicle carried the father of his best friend closer to the the doom his own father had planted.