Coming Home_3

Upon noticing her distress, Uncle Jacob sighed and set his fork down. His worried face was visible on his wrinkled forehead as he leaned forward. He remarked, "Let's finish our meal first, Emily," with a combination of tenderness and determination.

"In order to get this done, we will all need to work together. Once we're done, I'll ensure you know everything, alright?" Although he meant well, he seemed just as troubled by the weight of the unsaid reality that hovered over them as she was. He wanted to reassure her.

*

*

The next day, Emily walked anxiously outside the Lewis home gates, caught in a tornado of contradictory emotions. Rather than acting as a practical physical barrier, the massive wrought-iron gates symbolized the growing divide between her and her children.