Crushing Panic

Caleb had carried Rowan to another room to calm him down.

Luckily, the boy had finally fallen asleep, his little breaths steadying after the storm of tears.

Elena sat alone in the quiet, her body curled into itself as if she could shrink into nothing. She wrapped her arms around her knees, pressing her forehead against them, letting the tears fall without trying to stop them this time.

They strea