All Chapters of Promises We Never Forget: Chapter 11 - Chapter 13

One Year Later New York City Adrian Cole — 36 Marcus Bennett — 37 Sarah Bennett — 35 Kai Bennett — 17 ⸻ Seventeen. According to Marcus Bennett… It was the age where boys suddenly believed they knew everything. According to Sarah… It was the age where they still needed reminding to take their laundry downstairs. According to Adrian… It was the age where the future stopped feeling distant. It started asking questions. Questions no one else could answer for you. What do you want to become? Who do you want to be? What kind of life do you want to build? Kai had begun asking himself those questions more often than he admitted. ⸻ His final year of high school arrived faster than anyone expected. Football training became more intense. Exams became more demanding. University brochures covered the dining table almost every weekend. Marcus had opinions. Sarah had concerns. Kai had headaches. ⸻ One Saturday afternoon… The entire Bennett family was sitting in the back

New York City Adrian Cole — 36 Marcus Bennett — 37 Sarah Bennett — 35 Kai Bennett — 17 ⸻ “I don’t want to go.” The words settled over the dining room like a storm cloud. Nobody spoke. Not because they didn’t know what to say. Because they hadn’t expected those words. The scholarship letter still lay open on the table. A letter students across the country dreamed of receiving. A full scholarship. Tuition. Accommodation. Books. Living expenses. Everything. Sarah looked from the letter to her son. “Kai…” “You’ve worked so hard for this.” Kai stared down at his untouched dinner. “I know.” Marcus leaned back in his chair. His expression calm. Too calm. “Then help me understand.” Kai remained silent. “Why don’t you want to go?” A long pause. “I just don’t.” Marcus sighed. “That’s not an answer.” “It’s the only one I’ve got.” ⸻ The silence stretched. Until Sarah quietly reached across the table. She rested her hand o