CHAPTER II – THE TRUTH UNDER THE BRIDGE
CHAPTER II – THE TRUTH UNDER THE BRIDGE
An hour later, Ethan sat across from Noah at a small café near the park.
Oliver was happily eating a chocolate muffin while Noah stared suspiciously at the sandwich in front of him.
“You can eat it,” Ethan said gently.
Noah didn't touch it.
“What do you want from me?”
The question hurt more than Ethan expected.
Because it wasn't rude.
It was defensive.
The kind of question asked by someone who had learned trust was dangerous.
“Where's your mother?” Ethan asked carefully.
Noah's eyes dropped.
For the first time, fear appeared.
“She died last winter.”
The words shattered the room.
Ethan felt all the air leave his lungs.
Clara.
Gone.
No chance for answers.
No chance for explanations.
Only Noah remained.
“She never talked about my father,” Noah continued quietly.
“She only said he wasn't a bad man.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
A decade of questions suddenly became heavier than ever.
“Where have you been living?”
Noah shrugged.
“Wherever I can.”
The answer sounded practiced.
May you like
Like he'd said it before.
Far too many times.
