Chapter 70-home again

The drive back home felt different. After everything that had happened, the familiar sights through the car windows seemed brighter, almost as if the world itself had changed. Ethan sat beside me, his small hand wrapped tightly around mine. His face was still pale, and his eyes held the shadows of what he'd been through, but I could see a faint smile trying to make its way onto his lips. I held him close, squeezing his hand gently, and he leaned into me, finding comfort in my touch. Harrison drove in silence, glancing in the rearview mirror every few seconds to check on us. There was a weight lifted from him as well. His shoulders, usually tense with responsibility, looked relaxed, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't frowning. Beside him, Rachel sat with a look of pure relief on her face. She'd been with us through all of this, supporting us, and now, at last, she was able to relax, knowing Ethan was safe. When we finally pulled up to our home, the sense of reli