NICHOLAS’S POV

It was strange, hearing laughter again. The house felt alive, warm, and whole for the first time in weeks. True happiness, free of tension, fear, or the weight of what’s been lost.

Ava was already up when I came downstairs, her hair pulled back loosely, one of my shirts hanging off her shoulders.

She was kneeling to tie Julie’s shoelaces, her hands moving with so much care and patience, that I couldn’t look away. Julie loves wearing shoes indoors, at first I found it off. ...