Two days later, we went back home—with police present.
The house was untouched.
But something inside us wasn’t.
Aaron changed the locks. Installed cameras. Cut off contact completely.
And for the first time in a long time… our home felt like ours again.
Safe.
Weeks passed.
Then one evening, as Lucy played in the yard, she asked me something simple:
“Mom… why did we leave that night?”
I looked at her… then at Denise’s house down the street.
