The realization did not come with drama.
It started in the hallway outside Arianne's study, where light shone from under the door, casting a narrow strip across the floor. Lily leaned against the wall, arms crossed like adults do during serious talks. Leo sat cross-legged next to her, holding a small whiteboard on his knees with the marker ready.
They had been watching—not all the time, not with suspicion, just paying attention.
Mommy and Daddy used to sit close together during movies. Lily remembered how their shoulders touched, even when there was space on the couch. She remembered how Daddy kept his arm around Mommy long after the opening credits. Sometimes, Mommy would fall asleep first, her head tilting without warning. Daddy would laugh and adjust the blanket without waking her.
Uncle Franz and Aunt Arianne did not look like that.
