A Bitter Homecoming

Eight days had passed since Kaelen’s call, and I hadn’t heard from him since. He promised to be back by the sixth, but he wasn’t. I couldn’t help but worry about what had happened on his journey. *Was he safe?*

One afternoon, feeling restless, I asked Cole to take me into town.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t take you out,” Cole said apologetically.

“But we won’t be long, Cole. I just need to buy somethin