Footsteps retreated. The car door slammed, the engine roared, and then\u2026 silence. Only the rustle of leaves and the pounding of my heart filled the air.<\/p>\n
Tears blurred my vision. My own son. The boy I had raised, loved, defended. Why?<\/p>\n
When I turned to Robert, his expression wasn\u2019t just pained \u2014 it was haunted. He looked at me, eyes hollow, and said something that froze my blood colder than the mountain air.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey didn\u2019t do this alone. I knew this day might come\u2026 because of what I did years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him, stunned, my breath ragged. \u201cWhat do you mean \u2014 what you did?\u201d I whispered, clutching his arm to keep him anchored to me.<\/p>\n
Robert closed his eyes, and for a long moment I thought he might pass out. Then, with a shudder, he spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cBack when Daniel was just a boy, I made a choice. A selfish one. I thought it was for the family, but\u2026 it was for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I blinked, trying to steady the dizziness in my head. \u201cRobert, now is not the time\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
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