The car ride home was unusually quiet, a stark contrast to the usual chatter that filled the space. Delphinia stole a glance at Ashton, who was sitting next to her, lost in whatever he saw outside the window. His small face, usually so animated with stories from school, was unusually somber. He stared out the window, his fingers tracing invisible patterns on his seatbelt.
"Everything okay there, Ashton?" Delphinia asked, keeping her tone light.
Ashton turned from the window, his gaze flickering to her. His eyes lit up for a second before the spark faded. "Yeah, it's fine," he mumbled, his voice soft.
Delphinia frowned but didn't press further. Maybe he was just tired from school. She turned her focus back to the road, though her thoughts lingered on his unusual behavior.