Harper saw him.
Her laughter softened.
For one second, her eyes met his.
Elias forgot how to breathe.
- “Harper,” he said.
His voice broke on her name.
She looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Then her tiny fingers tightened in Talia’s sweater.
Talia turned her head and saw Elias in the doorway.
Her smile faded slightly, not from guilt, but caution.
- “Mr. Carter,” she said softly. “She’s okay. We were just playing.”
Playing.
Such a simple word.
Such a normal word.
It shattered him.
Elias stepped into the room slowly.
Harper watched him, her body still leaning against Talia.
Talia kept one hand lightly near Harper’s back, not holding her down, not forcing anything, just ready.
- “She moved,” Elias whispered.
Talia’s eyes filled with something like joy.
- “Yes.”
- “She laughed.”
- “Yes.”
He took another step closer.
Harper’s face changed.
The brightness dimmed.
Her shoulders curled inward.
Talia noticed immediately.
