Chapter 6
The hum of the cars engine felt deafening inside the quiet interior of the SUV as Clara navigated the winding suburban roads toward home. In the backseat, secured firmly in his car seat, Leo had finally cried himself into a deep, exhausted sleep. The heavy combat boot rested awkwardly on the seat beside him, still clutched loosely in his small, grubby hand. Clara glanced at him frequently in the rearview mirror, her heart aching at the tear tracks still visible on his flushed cheeks. The drive was agonizingly silent; she had turned off the radio before leaving the cemetery, unable to bear the intrusion of human voices or music. The overcast sky outside mirrored the heavy, gray mood inside the vehicle. When she finally turned into their driveway, the familiar suburban house looked entirely different. The lawn needed mowing, Marks bicycle leaned neglected against the side of the garage, and a welcoming wreath that hung on the front door felt bitterly ironic now. Clara turned off the ignition, sitting in the silence for a long moment, gathering the mental strength required to step across the threshold. Walking into that house without Mark was the hurdle she had dreaded since the deployment began. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out into the chilly air, walking around to the backseat to gently unclip Leo. As she lifted him into her arms, he stirred slightly, instinctively tightening his grip on the boot before settling his head back against her shoulder with a soft, weary sigh. She carried him up the front steps, unlocked the door, and stepped into the quiet hallway that would echo with his absence forever.
