After eating, everyone naturally began clearing the table. Ethan noticed Aunt Clarissa reaching for one of the heavier serving dishes, her hands trembling ever so slightly.
He was beside her before she even managed to lift it.
"Nah."
He gently took it from her.
"You've done enough."
She tried to protest.
"Ethan, you don't have to-"
"I know."
He smiled.
"But I want to."
He guided her back toward her chair.
For a brief moment, he couldn't help reflecting on how different he was from the teenager who'd once lived here. Back then, helping around the house had never crossed his mind. He'd been too busy causing trouble somewhere.
Getting into fights, stealing, running from the police, and claiming it was all for his family.
Now, simply washing dishes alongside people he cared about felt nice and peaceful. He joked with Lila, who worked as a cop, while drying plates. Maren complained that he stacked everything wrong, while Clarissa laughed from the table.
