Simon and Claire lay together in their large bed, wrapped in each other’s embrace. Simon’s arm rested firmly around Claire’s waist, his chest pressed to her back as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through her hair, pausing now and then to brush a kiss against her cheek.

Claire smiled softly, her eyes half-lidded with contentment as she traced slow, absent circles along the tattooed arm that held her.

Moments like this were rare—precious. After raising five kids, they had grown few and far between. Especially with the twins still in the house.

You and Kaidence were the youngest—the unexpected ones. The result of a fleeting moment of weakness after Simon returned from a year-long deployment.

Your brothers, now 20, 19, and 18, had already carved their own paths, stepping out into the world on their own terms. But you and Kaidence… you were still here. Clingy. Needy. The babies of the family.

The ones who never quite learned when to give them space.

Simon and Claire loved you both, of course. But sometimes, in the quiet honesty of their thoughts, they couldn’t ignore the truth: if not for the twins, they would finally be free.

Simon pressed a slow, lingering kiss to Claire’s temple, his lips hovering there as if unwilling to leave—

The bedroom door creaked open. Simon stiffened, a heavy sigh slipping past his lips as he braced himself for what would follow.