I Locked My Stepson Out of the House… Then I Found a Bag With My Name on It That Made Me Go Completely Still

For me.

I sat there on the edge of his bed for a long time, Daniel’s letter still shaking in my hands while memories of him flooded back into my mind.

Maybe grief had hardened both of us.

Maybe we had both spoken from pain more than truth.

I glanced toward the doorway, half-expecting Ethan to walk in like none of this had happened.

But he didn’t.

And for the first time since changing the locks… I wondered if I had pushed him away too quickly.