Micah hears the family long before anyone comes to get him. The clatter of pans. Daniel humming off-key. Lucy shrieking about where her socks went. Nora negotiating with her mother over the ethics of pancakes vs. waffles. Warm chaos. The sound of belonging. He sits on the edge of his bed in what is now his room, but until a few days ago was Nora’s, already dressed, already awake, already trying to convince himself that being part of it isn’t going to swallow him whole.
He hears the footsteps before the knock. Three taps. Soft. Intentional.
“Micah… it’s Ellie.”
He closes his eyes for a second. That name hits him every time. The one she only uses with him, the one that goes straight past his defenses. He doesn’t answer right away. Not because he doesn’t want to. Because he always has to take a moment to settle his breath.
Elise stands on the other side of the door, waiting. Not pushing. Never pushing. Just there.
He exhales. One long, steadying breath. He’s not afraid of the room. He’s not afraid of Elise. He’s afraid of taking up the space she keeps offering him. He stands. His hand hovers over the doorknob for a heartbeat longer than it should so that he can inhale, regain his equilibrium. Then he turns it.
Elise smiles the moment the door opens. Not big. Just warm. “Breakfast’s ready.”
Micah nods once. He should say something like thank you or I’ll be right there, but the words tangle in his throat.
Elise doesn’t seem to notice. She just steps back, giving him room to walk beside her instead of behind.
He follows her down the hallway. Not fully relaxed. Not fully convinced he belongs. But present. Willing. Trying.
But when Lucy sees him and screams, “UNCLE MICAH! YOU’RE LATE!” and throws herself at his legs —
Micah actually smiles. Tiny. Barely there. But real.
Elise sees it. She doesn’t comment. She just nudges his arm lightly as she passes him a plate.
He sits at the table with the family. Still cautious. Still quiet. But inside the room. Not watching from the doorway. And for him, that’s everything.
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