"Welcome back, dear."
"..."
No response came.
Soren continued walking forward, the two boys still clinging to his legs and the little girl giggling atop his shoulders. None of them so much as glanced her way. It was as though her voice had dissolved into the breeze before it could reach their ears.
Ethea's brows furrowed slightly as she quickened her pace, closing the distance between them, and called out again, louder this time.
"DEAR!"
This time, they stopped.
Soren's steps faltered, the boys loosened their grip, and the little girl's laughter faded into silence as all four of them turned their heads toward her in a slow, almost mechanical unison.
And the moment their gazes met, something curdled deep in Ethea's chest.
