Viola came home past two o'clock in the morning, expecting that Ezekiel and Elizabeth would already be asleep.
The house was quiet when she stepped inside. She slipped off her shoes carefully, not wanting to wake anyone, and moved past the living room with slow, tired steps.
That was when she saw them.
Ezekiel was still awake.
Elizabeth, however, was fast asleep on the couch, curled up beneath a thin blanket.
"You're back," Ezekiel greeted softly.
Viola paused.
"You still didn't go to sleep?" she asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.
He shifted slightly, as though caught doing something he had no proper excuse for.
"I was just making sure you were alright," he replied, his voice a little stiff. "So I could come get you if something happened."
The words sounded casual, but his nervousness betrayed him. It was obvious that was not the whole reason.
"But I'm glad you're okay," he added quickly.
