Chapter 14 – Ethan's Questions
Ethan was now ten years old.
Bright.
Funny.
Completely obsessed with science.
He had very few memories of the night everything changed.
Mostly fragments.
Blue lights.
Rain.
A teddy bear wearing a police uniform.
One evening while Melissa prepared dinner, Ethan quietly asked,
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Why don't I remember Dad very much?"
Melissa paused.
Some questions could no longer be answered with, "You're too young."
She looked toward Chloe.
Her daughter gave a small nod.
It was time.
That night the three of them sat together in the living room.
Melissa spoke honestly.
She explained addiction.
Violence.
Fear.
She never insulted Brian.
She simply described the choices he had made.
Ethan listened without interrupting.
Finally he looked toward Chloe.
"You saved us."
Chloe shook her head.
"No."
"I made a phone call."
"You were the brave one."
She smiled sadly.
"I was terrified."
"Then why did you do it?"
She reached over and squeezed his hand.
"Because loving someone is bigger than being scared."
Ethan didn't answer.
Instead, he hugged her so tightly that neither of them could breathe.
Later that night Ethan secretly wrote an essay for school.
Its title was:
My Hero Doesn't Wear a Cape.
He never told Chloe about it.
A month later his teacher invited Melissa to parent night.
May you like
She handed Melissa the essay.
By the time she finished reading, tears blurred every sentence.
