The One Who Stayed

Jake jumped down, breath caught in his throat. “It’s not about Ava,” Mia said quietly. “He’s been coming to keep that thing out.” And suddenly, all of it made sense. The parents called the authorities. Animal control removed the copperhead the next morning.

It had likely been nesting behind the nursery wall for weeks. They couldn’t explain how it got in or why it kept returning. The house felt quieter after that. The tension lifted, but something else settled in its place. After that night, Nimbus never returned to the crib. He had done what he came to do. He had kept her safe.