Shadow of Truth

Lucas sat at the kitchen table, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts as he absentmindedly stirred his coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the sound of Sarah chopping vegetables at the counter.

"Hey, Luke, you've been quiet tonight. Everything okay?" Said Sarah she gaze at Lucas looking up, Lucas eyes met with Sarah's concerned gaze. He forced a smile, trying to push aside the weight of his thoughts.

"Yeah, just tired from work, I guess."

Said lucas, She frowns slightly, her eyes searching his "Are you sure that's all?"

In hesitation, unsure how to voice his inner turmoil "It's just... I don't know, something feels off."

Sarah immediately sets down her knife and moves to sit beside him, placing a comforting hand on his arm "You can talk to me, you know. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

He instantly takes a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief at her words "Thanks, Sarah. It's just... I feel like I don't belong here sometimes."

Sarah squeezes his arm reassuringly "What do you mean?"

Lucas struggles to find the right words "I mean, your family, this whole lifestyle... it's not what I'm used to. Sometimes I feel like I'm just pretending to fit in."

Sarah gently brushes his cheek with her hand "You're not pretending, Luke. You're a part of this family, and we love you just the way you are."

His face clouded with weak smiles, grateful for her reassurance "Thanks, Sarah. I needed to hear that."

She leans in and kisses his cheek "Anytime, love."

As they sat together in comfortable silence, Lucas's gaze fell upon something on the floor. He reached down and picked it up, a small envelope that had fallen unnoticed during their conversation.

Lucas furrows his brow, examining the envelope "Hey, did you drop this?"

Sarah shakes her head, puzzled "No, I don't think so. What is it?"

Lucas instantly opens the envelope and pulls out a letter, his curiosity piqued "It looks like there's something inside."

Sarah leans in to get a better look "Who's it from?"

Lucas immediately reads the letter silently, his eyes widening in surprise "It's... it's from my father."

Sarah's eyes widen in shock as she listens to Lucas's words.

"Your father? But I thought..."

nods "Yeah, I thought so too. But it seems there's more to the story than I realized." Lucas responded.

Sarah reaches out and takes his hand, squeezing it gently "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

He smiles gratefully at her "Thanks, Sarah. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She returns the smile "You'd probably starve without my cooking."Lucas laughs softly "Yeah, probably."

Sarah gets up from the table and moves to the counter "So, what do you want to do for dinner?" Cos I'm Famished; as he sets the letter aside, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders"How about we order in? I don't really feel like cooking tonight."

Sarah nods in agreement"Sounds good to me. Thai or pizza?"

He considers for a moment "Let's go with Thai. I could use some Pad Thai." Okay then she accepted without arguing,smiles clouds her face "Pad Thai it is, then. I'll make the call."

As Sarah dials the number for their favorite Thai restaurant, Lucas can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for her unwavering support. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he knows that with Sarah by his side, he can face them with courage and determination. And as they sit down to enjoy their meal together, he's filled with a renewed sense of hope for the future.

The aroma of Pad Thai filled the kitchen as Sarah ended the call and returned to the table. She placed her hand atop Lucas's, a comforting gesture that spoke volumes without the need for words.

"It's all sorted. Should be here in about thirty minutes." Sarah said; Lucas smiles, grateful for her thoughtfulness* "Thanks, Sarah. You always know how to take care of me.""Well, someone has to look out for you." Said Sarah.

Their laughter filled the kitchen, momentarily pushing aside the weight of Lucas's newfound discovery. For a moment, it felt as though nothing else mattered, as though they were simply two people enjoying each other's company.

But as the laughter faded, Lucas's thoughts returned to the letter in his hand. He turned it over, examining the faded ink and worn edges, his mind racing with questions.

sighs "I can't believe this. After all these years, to receive a letter from him..."He speaks out surprised at what was happening Sarah squeezes his hand gently "It must be a lot to process. Do you want to talk about it?"

Lucas shakes his head "I don't even know where to start. There's so much I don't understand."

She stood up and leans in closer, her voice soft and comforting "We'll figure it out together, Luke. Whatever it is, we'll face it as a team."

Lucas turned to her with smiles on his face , feeling a surge of love and gratitude "I don't know what I'd do without you, Sarah. You're my rock."

Sarah returns the smile, her eyes shining with emotion "And you're mine, Luke. Always."

Their moment of intimacy was interrupted by the sound of a doorbell, signaling the arrival of their dinner. They rose from the table and moved to the door together.

As they sat down to eat, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that lingered in the back of his mind. But as he looked across the table at Sarah, her presence a beacon of strength and support, he knew that together, they could handle anything that came their way.

And as they shared their meal and conversation, Lucas felt a glimmer of hope begin to blossom within him. Whatever secrets his past may hold, he knew that with Sarah by his side, he could face them all fearlessly.