I found Ethan sitting silently at the kitchen table.
His backpack was still on.
His hands rested in his lap.
He stared at the wooden surface without moving.
The entire house suddenly felt unnaturally quiet.
Somewhere down the hallway, I could hear a closet door opening and closing.
Melissa was there.
I sat beside Ethan.
“Sweetheart,” I asked gently, “did something happen today?”
He looked toward the hallway.
Then he whispered something that made my stomach tighten.
“Please don’t tell Melissa.”
Every hair on my arms seemed to stand up.
I lowered my voice.
“What happened?”
Ethan hesitated.
His lips pressed together.
His eyes filled with the fearful expression children get when they’re trying to carry something far too heavy for them.
Then he shook his head.
“I promised.”
That was enough.
Every instinct inside me wanted to pull him into my arms and demand to know everything.
