Rachel’s Hesitation
As we continued our walk, Rachel faltered when I brought up the inconsistencies again—her silences louder than anything she could say. “What exactly do you think you know?” she asked, her eyes scanning the woods like they might offer an escape. It was clear she sensed I’d assembled parts of the puzzle, and her unease settled over us like the charged air before a storm. I said nothing, letting the weight of the silence press down, watching her squirm beneath it.
Rachel’s Hesitation
Cabin Fire Memories
Back at the cabin, I leaned against the porch rail, letting the flickering firelight dance across my thoughts as the kids roasted marshmallows nearby. Their laughter cut through the tension like a warm knife through ice—pure, uncomplicated joy. “Watch out, you’ll burn it!” Liam shouted to Marcus, both of them grinning like the world held no secrets. And for a moment, that warmth pulled me from the weight in my chest. But even as I soaked in the scene, Rachel’s earlier hesitation clung to me like smoke—faint but impossible to ignore.
Cabin Fire Memories
