Sienna

The night air was colder than usual, the kind that wrapped around you and made silence feel heavier. I was still in my room, scrolling through Jaxon’s last text, when I heard the sound of a familiar car pulling up outside. My heart dropped immediately.

I peeked through the curtain, and there it was — Dad’s car.

“Kendra,” I whispered sharply. “He’s here.”

Before she could say anything, I was already halfway down the stairs. Mom was just getting up from the couch, confusion on her face. “Who’s that?”

“Dad,” I said quietly.

He honked twice, short and firm — his usual signal. That sound alone made my chest...