Before the Eruption

Avery

I pulled away from the parking lot, tires crunching over gravel as Luigi's disappeared in my rearview mirror. My hands gripped the steering wheel too tightly, knuckles white against the leather.

"Mom, who was that man?" Noah's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

I glanced at him. He'd buckled himself in without prompting, legs swinging, chocolate still smeared at the corner of his mouth