Ethan Comes Home Different
Chapter 16 - Ethan Comes Home Different
Ethan returned six months later for Thanksgiving.
He looked lighter.
School was going well.
He had made friends.
He was dating someone named Mia.
Robert tried not to interrogate him.
He failed after seven minutes.
Emma laughed from the kitchen.
Some things changed slowly.
After dinner, Ethan told them he planned to specialize in counseling.
Robert looked surprised.
“Because of Mom?”
“Because of all of us.”
Ethan wanted to work with families dealing with grief.
For months, he had been ashamed of dropping out.
Now he understood the experience had changed the direction of his life.
Robert raised his glass.
“To mistakes.”
Emma laughed.
“That’s your toast?”
Robert smiled.
“To mistakes we finally stop hiding.”
They clinked glasses.
Margaret’s empty chair was still there.
They missed her.
May you like
They always would.
But for the first time, grief no longer felt like a locked room.
