Mother's True Love.

Unwelcomed Realities.

Emily stood at the doorstep, her heart racing as she took a deep breath. Behind her, Alex and Sarah shared the same anxious glances, each of them feeling the weight of the moment. They had finally arrived at Nathan's house, the mysterious boy who had somehow been tied to Jules's tragic end.

After a few knocks, the door creaked open, revealing a woman in her late forties, her eyes tired but wary. "Can I help you?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

"We're looking for Nathan," Emily said, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's important."

The woman sighed, her face tightening. "Nathan isn't in a good state right now. He can't talk."

"Please, we really need to speak to him," Alex insisted. "It's about Jules."

The mention of Jules's name hung in the air, heavy with unspoken pain. Nathan's mother, Amy, hesitated, glancing back over her shoulder as if weighing her options. After a long silence, she relented. "Fine. But just for a few minutes."

As they stepped inside, the atmosphere felt thick, almost suffocating. The living room was dimly lit, cluttered with unwashed dishes and scattered papers. And there, slumped on the couch, was Nathan.

His body was tense, his gaze fixated on the blank television screen. It was as if he hadn't even registered their presence until Amy gently nudged him. "Nate, honey, wake up. You have some visitors."

He blinked slowly, confusion flickering across his face. When he finally looked up at them, Emily's heart sank. Nathan was trembling, his eyes wide and filled with fear, as if he had just escaped a nightmare.

"Who are you?" he stammered, his voice shaky, glancing around as if trying to gauge the reality of the situation.

"We're friends of Jules," Emily managed to say, her voice softening. "We just want to talk. Please, can you tell us what happened?"

Nathan flinched at the mention of Jules. "I... I can't," he whispered, his body curling in on itself, as if the very name itself could harm him.

Alex stepped forward, his tone urgent but calm. "We're not here to hurt you. We want to understand what's going on. Please, we just need to know the truth."

But Amy interjected, stepping in front of Nathan protectively. "This isn't the right time," she insisted, her voice firm. "He's not in a good place to talk. You should leave."

A tense silence filled the room as Emily, Alex, and Sarah exchanged glances, their determination clashing with the reality of Nathan's fragile state.

"Can we stay? Just for tonight?" Emily asked, her voice almost a whisper. "We don't want to push him. We just want to be here for him."

Amy hesitated, the corners of her mouth twitching downward. Finally, she nodded slowly. "You can stay. But I won't guarantee he'll be able to talk. He's been through a lot."

As the night stretched on, Emily couldn't shake the feeling of sorrow for Nathan. They all settled into a quiet corner of the house, trying to find a semblance of comfort amid the chaos.

The flickering light from the TV cast eerie shadows on the walls, but they remained in silence, feeling the weight of their quest pressing heavily upon them. Tomorrow, they would try again. For Jules. For Nathan. For the truth that lingered just out of reach.