(A/N: Found this picture in my gallery I've taken three years ago.)

Chapter 6 - Close to You》

5-29-18

Dear Diary,

It had been weeks since Seth and Sara left, and while I had grown sorta used to their absence. Seth, always thinking ahead, made sure we'd never be completely out of touch.

Before he left, he had spent some time working on my laptop and phone, setting up a secure way for us to stay in contact when he and Sara weren't around using some sort of encrypted drive.

He'd been quite about it at first, tinkering with the settings while telling me that it was a "surprise." I watched him work, intrigued but trusting him completely.

Now, I had a special app on both devices, one that allowed us to video chat and send messages without the fear of anyone intercepting them. It was like having a direct line to Seth and Sara, no matter where they were. Even though I couldn't see them in person, it was a comfort knowing they were both just a click away.

"So," Mom began while we visited, "any update on when they'll be coming back?"

"I haven't heard anything definite." I said "Sara said it might be the second or third week of the following month."

Mom nodded thoughtfully. "I see."

I smiled. "Yeah it'll be nice to have them back. In the meantime, I've been keeping busy and staying in touch with them through the app Seth set up."

Mom's expression softened. "That's good. It's good to stay connected."

"It is," I agreed. "And it's nice to have a way to hear from them regularly, even if they're far away." "Hey, Mom," I added, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Don't you miss Dad?" Her smile faltered slightly, and I could see a flicker of nostalgia in her eyes. "I do, sometimes. It's different without him here, but I focus on the good memories." "If he hadn't done what he did, would you still stay with him?"

"There was never a day where I didn't," she said, her voice steady. "We had a lot of good times together. But things changed, and I had to make difficult choices for my own happiness and yours. Sometimes people make choices in life, and sometimes those choices can make you."

I nodded, understanding the complexity of love and loss. "I get that. It's just hard to think about sometimes, what things could've been."

Mom reached out, squeezing my hand. "I know sweetheart, he is your dad after all. But it's important to remember that our experiences shape us. Good and bad."

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I was in my room typing away on my laptop, the screen casting a soft glow in the dim room.  My computer dinged and saw Seth had sent me a message. It had become our routine to talk in the evenings since it's the least busy, catching up on everything that had happened during the day.

I clicked on the message and read it.

Seth: Are you busy right now?

I typed back. Me: No, why?

Seth: Me and Sara are on my way right now.  I need you to meet us at Jack's house after while.

I furrowed my eyebrows.

Me: What's wrong?

There was a long pause.

Ok, something is up and it is sort of scaring me.

Seth: Me and Sara will tell you everything when we get there. Trust me.

Ok, something is definitely going on..

A chill ran down my spine. Trust him? Something was definitely wrong.

I closed the lid of the computer, my hands shaking slightly, feeling the growing tension with every step.