*Isla*

“Mom? Dad?” I say as my parents come charging into the room. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, thank the Moon Goddess!” Mom says, ignoring my question as she practically runs across the room to Ben. She wraps her arms around him and cradles his head like he is a small child. “We were so terrified!”

Dad stays back a bit, but he has a worried look on his face as he surveys my brother and Mom.

“Mom, I’m fine,” Ben says as he struggles to get himself free of Mom’s grasp. “Seriously, you can let go.”

Mom relaxes her grip, taking him by the shoulders as tears stream...