Ethan easily won the friendly tussle with his giant counterpart. He shifted his weight, locking Mark into a chokehold with practised ease like a python.
Mark struggled, trying to fight his grip.
Then he tapped.
"Alright, alright... I give up!"
Ethan let him go, grinning.
"That's the first time I've won one of these."
Mark sat up, rubbing his neck.
"It's only because I haven't been training recently."
"Yeah, yeah."
For a moment, it felt like nothing had changed; like the years hadn't passed and everything was still the same.
It was a brief illusion, but a comforting one.
After they settled down, Ethan stood and walked back over to Clarissa, his expression more serious now.
He held the bag out again.
"You should take it," he said firmly. "It's the least I can do for you raising me."
Her smile faded, and her eyes softened as tears slowly welled up.
"You're like my son, Ethan," she said quietly. "And I would have been broken either way, but what you did…"
