00:00against her like she was the only safe place in the world there are clean towels in the bathroom
00:06he said his voice low i'll have some food sent up she didn't look at him thank you but just
00:13tonight
00:14ethan nodded though the words landed heavier than she meant them to a few minutes later room
00:19service arrived steaming bowls of chicken soup bread still warm from the oven mugs of hot cocoa
00:25crowned with melting marshmallows the children's eyes lit up clara murmured a quiet eat slowly
00:31but her gaze stayed fixed on the window where snow swirled in the amber streetlight
00:36ethan stood by the dining table hands in his pockets pretending to check his phone
00:41but his attention kept drifting back to the way clara smoothed her daughter's hair without thinking
00:46to the tiny cough her son tried to hide when the children finished ethan gathered the empty dishes
00:52and set them by the door clara rose adjusting the blanket over the sofa where the twins now curled
00:58together you can take the bedroom ethan said it's warmer i'll stay here her tone was final ethan paused
01:08searching for something to say that wouldn't push her further away in the end he simply nodded good
01:14night clara she didn't answer but as he turned to leave he heard her whisper almost to her
