And that was it.
No explanation. No details.
But Maya didn’t ask. She only nodded and murmured a soft okay and wished him a safe travel, even as something tightened in her chest.
Monroe and Lee became ever-present shadows—silent but unwavering. They kept their distance in public but always lingered close enough to intercept danger. Without a word, they helped with the moving boxes, lifted the heavier things, made sure Jamie was never left alone during Maya’s shifts.
Jamie had started his new medication. He smiled more now—leaner, steadier, healthier. Ms. Janice cooked less, with their meals now tailored by the hospital’s nutritionists. The teenage boy who once seemed like glass now walked through their home with a lighter step.
And slowly, steadily, their lives began to shift.
Blackw
