The rest of the day passed in a quiet, fragile blur. By the time Ethan finally unlocked the front door and slipped inside, the house was buried in the dead of night.
Exhaustion trailing his steps, he headed straight to his room. He slid his window open, stepping out into the crisp, biting night air of the balcony to clear his racing mind. A second later, a soft click echoed from the right. The window to his mother's room slid open.
Is mother out here too? Ethan thought.
He leaned slightly over the divider. "Mom? Are you there?"
"Yes, Ethan. I am," she replied softly.
"There's... something I need to talk to you about," Ethan said, the weight of his recent discoveries pressing heavily on his chest.
"Of course."
Ethan stepped back into his room, walked down the dark hallway, and gently pushed open her bedroom door. Selena was sitting on her balcony, wrapped in the shadows of the night. As Ethan approached, she offered a gentle smile and patted the empty space on the bench beside her.
Even with the smile, the pale moonlight didn't hide the dark circles under her eyes. She looks completely worn out, Ethan noted grimly as he sat down.
The night breeze brushed past them, incredibly cold.
"What did you want to talk about, Ethan?" she asked, her voice steady but fragile.
Ethan took a quiet breath, turning to face her fully. "Mom... why are you so sad?"
Selena's eyes widened slightly, the question catching her off guard.
"You've looked completely exhausted since the day I got back from Ottawa," Ethan pressed, his tone laced with genuine worry. "Why is that?"
Selena maintained her tight smile, looking out over the quiet neighborhood. "I'm not sad, Ethan. And I'm not worn out. It's just... something recently reminded me of something."
"What was it?"
She turned her gaze back to him, her expression unsettlingly calm. "The letters in your room."
Ethan's heart stopped. His eyes widened, a cold sweat breaking out down his spine. "What... what letters?"
"The ones warning you not to let Daisy walk to school alone. The ones mentioning the capital... and everything else," she said smoothly.
She found them, Ethan's mind raced, his throat suddenly dry.
"Ethan," Selena asked, her eyes locking onto his. "Who is sending those to you? Or... are you the one writing them?"
Sensing the danger, Ethan forced a calm expression and lied. "I'm the one writing them. They're just notes to myself."
Selena let out a slow, long breath, her shoulders visibly dropping. A profound sense of relief washed over her features, lifting a massive, invisible weight from her mind.
"I figured that might be the case," she murmured, a genuine warmth finally returning to her face. "Because it would be impossible if someone else was sending them to you."
"What do you mean?" Ethan asked, leaning in.
"Your handwriting... it's almost identical to his...," Selena explained, gently patting his head as she reverted to her usual, comforting self. "If he was the one sending those letters… that would be... terrifying."
"Who are you talking about, Mom?"
Selena didn't answer, simply smiling as she stroked his hair. Seeing her mind finally at ease, Ethan forced himself to smile along with her, remaining silent for a few long seconds.
This is my chance, his internal voice whispered. But if I ask her, I don't want her to be sad again. Should I really ask?
Clenching his fists in his lap to stop them from shaking, he finally broke the silence. "Mom..."
She looked at him affectionately. "Yes, dear?"
"Can you tell me about my other sibling?"
The warmth instantly vanished from Selena's face. Her eyes widened in shock, and she abruptly looked down at her lap.
A sharp knot of guilt twisted in Ethan's chest. "I'm sorry," he rushed out, reaching for her hand. "I shouldn't have brought it up. I know it hurts you. You don't have answer, if you don't want."
Selena shook her head, her voice cracking as she fought back a sudden wave of emotion. "No, Ethan."
She looked up, using the back of her hands to calmly wipe away the tears that were already spilling over her lashes. Ethan moved to comfort her, but she spoke before he could get a word out.
Selena whispered, her voice trembling. "He is nine years older than you."
Ethan nodded slowly, processing the massive revelation. "Where is he, Mom? Can you tell me where he went?"
"I don't know," she replied blankly.
A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the balcony.
Then, Selena spoke again, the words tearing from her throat. "You and Daisy deserve to know the truth. But... I am so terrified, Ethan. I don't want either of you getting caught in trouble. That other one, that man... he is very dangerous."
A sob choked off her breath. Ethan's chest tightened with a dark, creeping unease.
"I am so sorry, Ethan... I am so sorry," she wept openly now, fresh tears streaming down her face as she buried her face in her hands. "I just wanted to give all of my children a normal life. But that man... he will do anything to achieve what he wants."
Who is 'that guy'? Ethan wondered, horror sinking into his bones. Is she talking about my brother? or is there someone else?
"Calm down, Mom. I've got you," Ethan murmured, pulling her into a tight, protective embrace.
After a few minutes, her ragged breathing finally slowed against his shoulder. Ethan gently pulled back and dropped to one knee on the balcony floor, holding both of her hands securely in his.
Selena looked down at him, her gaze completely exhausted but fiercely earnest. "Ethan, I told you this because I refuse to lie to you anymore. But please... promise me you won't meddle in this. Live the normal life you just started. Let the past stay buried."
Ethan offered her a reassuring, perfect smile. "Don't be sad, Mom. I won't do anything reckless. I will do exactly as you wish."
Relieved, Selena leaned down and kissed his forehead, pulling him close one last time as she gently patted his hair.
The cold wind howled around them as they finally stood up and stepped back inside the warmth of the house. Ethan stayed by her side in the quiet bedroom for a little while longer, ensuring the color had returned to her face.
Finally, she stood up and offered a weary nod. "You should get some rest, Ethan. It's late."
Ethan nodded, turning toward the door. Ethan walked out after glancing a look at his mother. Seeing her fall asleep.