The drive back from the party was quiet, too quiet. The headlights of our car sliced through the night, casting fleeting shadows along the road.

Ethan had fallen asleep in the backseat, his little head resting against the window, oblivious to the tension that hung in the air between Daniel and me. I could feel it—a subtle but undeniable distance between us, something that had grown over time, something that we both chose to ignore until it became too big to avoid.

Once we got home, I helped Ethan into his pajamas and tucked him into bed. Daniel kissed him goodnight and then retreated to his study, as usual. I...