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Hey everyone,
First, I want to apologize for disappearing without any updates for the past few months.
Back in the middle of April, I was involved in a car accident. Because of everything surrounding the accident and the time I needed afterward, I ended up stepping away from writing and Patreon for much longer than I originally expected. Before I knew it, about four months had passed.
The most important thing I want everyone to know is that I'm okay.
I also want to thank everyone who stayed subscribed and supported me while I was gone. I know I disappeared without much explanation, and I genuinely appreciate those of you who stuck around despite the silence.
The good news is that I'm finally getting back into things.
I've started working on my stories again, and new chapters will be coming soon. I have a lot that I want to get back to, and I'm looking forward to continuing the stories we left unfinished and sharing some of the things I've been planning.
I don't want to make a bunch of promises about an exact upload schedule just yet. I'd rather get myself back into a steady rhythm first and then let you all know what the schedule will look like once I know I can maintain it.
But I am back, I'm doing well, and the stories are coming.
Thank you for your patience, your support, and for still being here.
It's good to be back.
Nii07
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The iron gates of the Massachusetts Academy groaned shut behind the Kanes' SUV. Inside the car, the atmosphere was thick with the kind of contemplative silence that follows a life-altering decision.
Linda sat in the passenger seat, her hands clasped tightly over her purse. Her eyes were bright, reflecting the passing streetlights of the Massachusetts countryside. "She is a remarkable woman, that Ms. Frost," Linda said, breaking the quiet. "The way she spoke about the individual curriculum… she didn't just see Ethan as a student. She saw and spoke about him as if he were meant to be a future leader. I've never felt so certain about a place, Marcus."
Marcus, his hands steady on the steering wheel, took a moment before responding. The skepticism that had defined his arrival at the academy hadn't entirely vanished, but it had shifted into a cautious respect. "The facilities are world-class, I'll give her that. And the security… it's better than most corporate headquarters I've visited." He glanced in the rearview mirror at Ethan, who was staring out the window at the receding forest. "She told me Ethan could start as early as Monday. That's only two days from now, Linda. It feels… a little rushed."
"Well, the semester is already well underway, Dad," Ethan interjected softly, his voice a perfect blend of eagerness and practical concern. "The longer I wait, the more of the specialized labs and classes I'll have to catch up on. If I join on Monday, I can integrate into the current cycle without falling behind too much. It'll be easier on everyone if I just dive in."
Marcus sighed, the sound a mixture of pride and reluctant acceptance. "I suppose you're right. No sense in dragging it out if the decision is made. I just didn't expect you to be leaving us so soon."
"You're not losing me, Dad," Ethan said with a reassuring smile. "It's just a different campus. I'll be back for the holidays, and we'll talk almost every day."
The drive back to Newark was filled with Linda's enthusiastic play-by-play of the tour. She spoke about the conservatory, the library, and the glowing recommendations Emma had shared from alumni currently at Oxford and MIT. Marcus chimed in occasionally, discussing the technical specs of the engineering wing.
By the time the SUV pulled into their driveway in Long Island, the moon was high, and the suburban quiet had settled over the neighborhood. The fatigue of the emotional day finally caught up with them as they stepped into the house.
"I'm exhausted," Linda admitted, leaning against the kitchen island. "But a good kind of exhausted."
"Tell you what," Marcus said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll take Monday off. I'll head over to Midtown High first thing in the morning, handle the withdrawal paperwork, and then I'll drive you up to the Academy myself, Ethan. We'll do it right."
"I'll go too," Linda added. "I want to see my little boy settled in his room before we leave."
Ethan nodded, a faint pang of genuine affection stirring in his chest. "Thanks, guys. That means a lot. Since you're both taking the day off, let me take care of dinner tonight. You two go relax in the living room."
Despite their protests that he must be tired too, Ethan ushered them into the living room. Cooking was, for Ethan, a form of chemistry and rhythmic instructions. He moved with a fluid, non-wasted-motion and efficiency that would have put a Michelin-starred chef to shame. However, unlike normal, when he cooked, he had a massive smile on his face, which he only noticed when he passed by the microwave.
Ethan touched his face and said, "I'm glad you two were my parent in this life."
Thirty minutes later, the aroma of garlic, rosemary, and seared steak filled the house. He prepared a marvelous meal—a pan-seared ribeye with a red wine reduction, roasted root vegetables, and a light arugula salad with a lemon-truffle vinaigrette. It was the kind of meal that felt like a celebration, a final tribute to the constant domestic life he was about to transcend partially.
They sat around the dining table, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows against the walls. They talked about the "little things"—Marcus's frustration with a neighbor's overgrown hedge, Linda's plans for the garden in the next spring after the baby is born, and talk of Ethan's childhood were quite interesting. For Ethan, these conversations were of a life he had fought hard to feel deserving. He listened intently, recording every laugh and every mundane detail into his perfect memory.
After the plates were cleared, Marcus reached into the hall closet and pulled out a worn game. "One last round before the scholar departs?"
Ethan smiled. "You're on."
As they set up the board, Ethan's mind automatically began to run the probabilities. Within three seconds of the first dice roll, he could see the entire path to victory. He knew exactly which resources would become scarce, and exactly how to block Marcus and Linda's expansion. But he didn't.
He played with a masterful subtlety, making "strategic blunders" that felt like honest mistakes and allowing Marcus to secure the lucrative brick port. He kept the score neck-and-neck, ensuring the tension remained high and the game remained enjoyable. When Linda finally secured the longest road to win by a single point, the room erupted in genuine laughter and playful ribbing.
"I let my guard down," Marcus joked, holding up his hands in mock defeat. "The student may have surpassed the master, but the mother still reigns supreme."
"I just had a feeling about those sheep," Linda laughed, glowing with the simple joy of the win.
Eventually, the yawns became too frequent to ignore. Ethan stood up and gathered the game pieces. "I'm heading up. I want to make sure my bags are actually packed and not just 'mostly' packed."
He hugged his mother—holding on for a second longer than usual—and shook his father's hand. "See you in the morning."
"Goodnight, son," Marcus said, his voice thick with a sudden, unexpected emotion.
Ethan climbed the stairs, his footsteps silent on the carpet. When he reached his room, he didn't turn on the light. He sat on the edge of his bed, listening to the muffled sounds of his parents moving around downstairs.
Downstairs, Marcus and Linda retreated to their own room. The door clicked shut, and the silence of the house felt heavier than before.
Linda sat at her vanity, slowly removing her earrings. She caught Marcus's reflection in the mirror as he sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his shoes.
"It's going to be so quiet, Marcus," she said softly.
Marcus looked up, a sad smile touching his lips. "I was just thinking the same thing. It's really going to be lonely."
Linda walked over and sat beside him, taking his hand in hers. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Yeah. It will be. For a little while."
Marcus sighed, squeezing her hand. "He's growing up so fast. I feel like I just taught him how to ride a bike, and now he's off to a private academy to learn whatever he'll learn. Now I feel like I didn't teach him enough or spend enough time with him."
Linda rested her head on his shoulder, her hand moving instinctively to rest against her stomach. "You know that's not true. Sure, he's leaving, but we both know he'll be amazing. We've both raised an amazing kid, and we should be proud of him. Besides, we won't be alone for long."
Linda walked over, took his hand, and placed it on her pregnant stomach, "I doubt you'll have time to think such thoughts once you'll have to take care of both of us."
Marcus looked at her, his eyes softening as he followed her gaze to her hand. A warmth spread through his chest, a counterweight to the melancholy of Ethan's departure. "You're right. Soon enough, we'll have a new set of lungs, making sure this house is never quiet again, and I'll be super busy."
They sat in the quiet of their room, thinking about the life growing inside her.
"Do you think we should tell him tomorrow?" Linda whispered. "Before he leaves for the school? Give him something to look forward to when he comes home for the first break?"
Marcus nodded slowly, a grin finally breaking through his tired features. "A little sister. I think he'd like that. It's a hell of a surprise to drop on a guy before his first day of school, but… yeah. Let's tell him. Tomorrow morning, before we head to Midtown."
"Six months," Linda murmured, her eyes closing as she leaned into her husband. "Our lives are about to get very, very complicated all over again."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Marcus replied, reaching over to kiss Linda before turning off the lamp.