Conflicting Emotions
As we pack for the trip, Jessica appears a bit more at ease, her movements steady and purposeful, while I remain tangled in a web of restless thoughts. She keeps saying this getaway will be a welcome distraction, but deep down, I sense there’s more to it than just the timing of a family visit. My head’s so clouded with doubt and unease that I keep losing track of what I’m supposed to be packing, caught somewhere between going through the motions and silently unraveling.
Conflicting Emotions
An Essential Trip
We set off with the car packed full of overnight bags and snacks, Jessica humming along with the radio in an effort to keep things light. The boys giggle in the backseat, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface. I keep my eyes on the road, but my thoughts drift to a dozen different scenarios, each more tangled than the last. Maybe—just maybe—Stan’s relentless curiosity will uncover something that brings me the answers I’m so desperately searching for.
An Essential Trip
