By evening, the house is quiet. The guests have trickled away, leaving behind the heavy silence of loss. Only Noah remains with my parents, his own mother and father lingering in the dimly lit living room.
Gilbert and Janet Sparks are older than I remember, gray streaks more prominent, shoulders slumped with the weight of the years. They had Noah late, and now, at thirty, he’s watching them age more quickly than he expected.
“Where’s William?” I ask, breaking the silence.
Janet offers a soft smile. “He’s upstairs, asleep in Elena’s bed.”
I nod, swallowing thickly. I haven’t seen him since I arrived. His grandparents have kept him close, shielding him.
I climb the stairs and pause at the door to Elena’s room, inhaling deeply, steadying myself. Then, I push it open.
William isn’t as
