The afternoon sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the living room floor.
My father-in-law had retreated to his room for a nap, leaving me to my thoughts.
The house was quiet, the kind of silence that felt like a held breath.
It was now or never.
I picked up my phone, fingers trembling slightly as I dialed my husband’s number.
He answered on the second ring, his voice warm and familiar.
“Hey, everything okay?”
I swallowed, the words sticking in my throat.
“We need to talk,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
“It’s about your dad.”
