We tried again, softer this time. “Sweetheart, we only worry because we love you,” I told her. She smiled faintly, almost pityingly. “I know you do. But this isn’t something you can control.” The last word stung. Parenting was always about balance, but had we lost it? Did our part in Nora’s life now boil down to “control”?
Martin grew restless. He scrolled through her social media, searching for clues. But there was nothing. No photos, tags, or hints of him could be found. It was worse than finding proof, because it was a deliberate omission. Who erases someone so thoroughly, unless they have reason to remain hidden?