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Never that.

Family.

My daughter.

And Hayley⁠—

I don't know what Hayley is anymore.

The answer used to be easy.

Everything.

At nineteen, I knew exactly what I wanted.

Hayley.

A house.

Children.

A life far away from the people who hurt her.

Then she disappeared.

Now she's standing a few feet away, studying the canyon while the afternoon sun catches the blond in her hair.

I don't know her favorite food.

I don't know where she lives.

I don't know what she does for work.

I don't know whether she has friends.

I don't know whether someone else has loved her.

I don't even know if Brooks is only a name she chose or one she got from someone else.

Eighteen years.

I can't pretend they didn't happen.

“Sean?”

I realize Sage is looking at me.

“What?”

“Are we going inside?”

“Yes.”

Arthur is holding the front door open.

Sage walks in first.

Hayley follows.