Chapter 125 - Pins & Needles

Noah

I didn’t know how to explain the feeling that washed over me when I saw Clara suddenly appear in Neil’s room. My breath caught in my throat. My heart was pounding in my chest as I took in the sight of her standing there.

She stood so still, almost as if she were part of the shadows. Her presence felt intrusive, unsettling. Especially in this most sacred space—Neil’s room, where I should have felt nothing but warmth and safety.

“What are you doing in here, Clara?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Though a tremor of unease slipped through. It was late—too late for casual visits, and certainly too late for wandering around a child’s room.

Clara turned to me, startled. She obviously hadn’t heard me come in. Her face was unreadable in the dim light. “I heard Neil,” she said softly, almost too softly. “It sounded like he was having a nightmare. I came in to check on him. I didn’t want to wake you or Raymond, so I thought I’d make sure everything was okay.”

Her explanation was r