POV: Alexander

The month of August had rolled in with a heaviness I couldn’t explain. The morning sun was bright, clear, and warm, but inside the house, there was a silence so thick it clung to the walls.

Breakfast had been served as usual, yet the atmosphere was strained. Megan sat at the far end of the dining table, her hands neatly folded on her lap before she slowly reached for her spoon. She didn’t look at me. Not once.

Lila moved quietly between us, setting down plates, scrambled ...