*Daphne*

Lucian shuffled around the house with his new backpack. I had just picked it out for him and his upcoming first day of middle school.

“Lucian, do you like your new backpack?” I hoped he did. He had begged me for that very backpack a few weeks ago.

Hopefully, he hadn’t changed his mind already.

He sighed. “Yeah, I like the backpack.”

“What’s wrong, then?” I went around the couch and put my arm around Lucian’s ...