Ethan’s POVFor the first time in weeks, I did not want to think.That feeling alone was strange.The past few days had been filled with secrets, investigations, missing reports, hidden family members, and enough emotional damage to last a lifetime.I was exhausted.Everyone was.The meeting had eventually ended after hours of talking, planning, and arguing.James had taken the evidence.Sarah had promised to continue searching through old records.Maya had somehow stolen three boxes of cookies.Nobody knew how.Nobody asked.Now the bookstore was closed.The lights were dim.And somehow, despite everything happening around us, nobody seemed eager to leave.Bella was sitting on top of one of the display tables with her legs crossed while Maya talked about a customer who had accidentally knocked over an entire shelf earlier.“It sounded like an earthquake.”“It was three books,” Bella said.“It was emotional damage.”“It was three books.”“It was the loudest three books in history.”Sa
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