"Sarah? What's wrong? I thought you said you wouldn't be back until late?"
Behind her, on the living room carpet, a small figure sat with his back to the camera, engrossed in stacking building blocks.
"Mom," I said, my voice steady. "Put Ethan on. I want to say hi."
The small figure turned around. When he saw me on the screen, his face lit up with pure joy. Ethan grinned, his deep dimples popping as he shouted at the phone.
"Mom! When are you coming back? Grandma made dumplings! It's the pork and cabbage kind you like!"
His cheerful voice sliced through the living room like a blade.
The air instantly froze.
Derek, Diana, Mrs. Lawson, every relative present—their eyes widened. They looked at the living, breathing Ethan on my phone screen, then turned their heads toward the red figure lying lifeless in the snow outside.
