#11: Silent Drive
On the ride home, Jamie tried to lighten the mood with small talk. He asked Lauren about school and cracked jokes to make Stacy smile. Lauren giggled here and there, but Jamie noticed she kept sneaking glances at her mom, almost as if she was waiting for her reaction.
Stacy, though, remained quiet. Her silence filled the car heavier than words ever could. Jamie’s heart pounded as his mind spun with questions and fears. Something was wrong—he could feel it—and Stacy’s distance only made the dread grow stronger.