THE DAYS THAT STARTED TO FEEL LIKE HOME
Chapter 13
That night, Ethan walked along the harbor.
The moon was reflected on the water.
The town behind him was quiet.
He stopped at the end of the pier.
The same place where he had stood after the storm.
The same place where he had watched the Harbor Games.
The same place where he had first begun wondering whether Greyhaven could become something more than a temporary stop.
A boat passed in the distance.
Its light moved slowly across the dark water.
Ethan put his hands into his jacket pockets.
He thought about leaving.
Not because he wanted to.
Just because the thought had once been automatic.
Whenever life became complicated, Ethan moved.
New place.
New job.
New name.
New beginning.
It had always been easier that way.
But now he imagined leaving Greyhaven.
The thought felt wrong.
Not frightening.
Not painful.
Just wrong.
He looked back toward the town.
Lights glowed in windows.
Someone laughed in the distance.
A dog barked.
A truck drove slowly down the street.
Life.
His life.
Ethan smiled.
Maybe staying wasn’t a decision anymore.
Maybe it had already happened.
