Too silent.
The swings moved slightly in the breeze. A plastic bag caught on the fence flapped softly. The gravel path was empty. No police tape. No flashing lights. No officers.
My chest tightened painfully.
I started walking, my legs feeling unsteady, like they might give out at any second. I scanned every corner, every bench, every shadow beneath the trees.
I held my breath without realizing it.
And then I saw her.
Lily sat on the edge of the sandbox, her backpack beside her, knees pulled up to her chest. She looked small. So small. Her shoulders were hunched, her hair messy, her face streaked with dried tears.
For a second, my brain didn’t process it.
Then everything hit me at once.
“Lily,” I breathed.
I was running before I realized I’d moved.
I dropped to my knees in front of her and pulled her into my arms, holding her so tight I was afraid I might hurt her. I kissed her cheeks, her hair, her forehead, over and over, my hands shaking.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “Oh my God, Lily.”
She clung to me, her little hands fisting into my coat. I felt her breathing against my chest, felt the solid proof that she was alive, here, safe.
Silent tears streamed down my face. I didn’t even try to stop them.
Behind me, I heard a sound that made me freeze.
I turned.
Ethan was on the ground.
He’d dropped to his knees a few feet away, his elbows braced on his thighs, his face buried in his hands. His shoulders shook violently.
I stared at him, stunned.
I had never seen him like that. Not like this. Not openly breaking in front of anyone. Not the Ethan I knew, the controlled one, the guarded one, the one who swallowed everything and never let it show.
I set Lily down gently, still in shock.
She looked at him.
Then she walked over and patted his shoulder, awkward and hesitant, like she wasn’t sure she was allowed to touch him.
He looked up sharply at the contact. For a split second, he looked startled. Then he pulled her into his arms.
He wrapped himself around her completely, like he was afraid she would disappear again if he loosened his grip.
“Don’t ever do that,” he said, his voice breaking. “Don’t ever leave me like that. Please.” He pressed his face into her hair. “I love you so much.”
I stopped breathing.
Lily sobbed against him.
“I love you too,” she said, her voice small and shaking. “I didn’t want to go away.”
