I stayed in the guest room for hours.
Sat on the bed. Stared at the walls. Counted the minutes until this nightmare would end.
Outside, I could hear them. Ethan and Lily. Moving through the house. Living their lives while I hid like a ghost.
Around noon, footsteps stopped outside my door. A soft knock.
"Ava?" Lily's voice. Hesitant. "Daddy made lunch. He said to tell you."
I didn't answer. Didn't move.
"Are you mad at me? For what I said at breakfast?"
God, no. She thought this was her fault.
I opened the door. Lily stood there holding Mr. Buttons. Her eyes were red. Like she'd been crying.
"I'm not mad at you," I said quickly. "Not at all."
"Then why are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding. I'm just... giving you and your dad space."
"But Daddy said you have to eat. He made grilled c
