As Riley left, Henry turned to Mira, who was curled up on the couch reading an encyclopedia. She gave him a look of silent judgment.
“So… you like reading?” he asked awkwardly.
“Obviously,” she replied, her voice far too mature for a nine-year-old.
“Cool. What’s your favorite subject?”
“Biology. Animals are fascinating,” she said, flipping a page.
Henry nodded, unsure how to continue. Then Mira hit him with a question.
“Are you married?”
“Uh, no.”
“Why not?”
“I like being on my own,” Henry said, hoping to end the conversation.
“No one likes being alone,” Mira said matter-of-factly. “Maybe you’re scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Mom says marriage is hard work. And you don’t like working.”
Henry’s jaw dropped. “She said that?”
Mira smirked. “Don’t worry, Uncle Henry. I get it. Some people are just scared.”
The day wore on. Despite Riley’s strict instructions, Henry ordered pizza. Mira’s eyes lit up, and for the first time, she seemed truly happy. They ate in silence, watching cartoons. Eventually, Henry dozed off on the couch.
When he woke, the house was eerily quiet. Mira was gone.
Panic surged as he searched the house, calling her name. Finally, he spotted an open window and a small shoe by the neighbor’s fence.
Climbing over, he found Mira and another child in a treehouse, playing with toys.
“Mira! You scared me!” he shouted, climbing up.
“I got bored,” she said simply. “Sam’s fun.”
“But your mom said no going outside!”
“You were sleeping,” Mira shrugged. “Now I know why you’re scared of responsibility.”
Henry sighed, realizing she wasn’t wrong.
When Riley returned, Henry and Mira greeted her with a playful “Surprise!” Riley nearly had a heart attack, but seeing her daughter laughing softened her.
As Henry drove home, Mira’s words echoed in his mind. No one likes being alone. Maybe she was right. Maybe he wasn’t scared of marriage—but of the vulnerability it required.
For the first time, Henry questioned his choices and wondered if the life he’d been living was really the one he wanted.