The day limped forward after that, laughter for the others, silence for Miriam. She walked a few steps behind as they packed up, her small hands fumbling with the cooler while Daniel and Elise carried gear under his approving gaze. On the ride home, he spoke freely to them, recounting the fish Daniel nearly caught, teasing Elise about her skipping stones.
He never once looked at Miriam. From that trip onward, the change was unmistakable. The warmth that had once flickered between them never returned. For years afterward, Miriam replayed that day at the lake in her mind, searching for the moment where she might have done something differently. If only she had kept quiet. If only she hadn’t corrected him.