The living room was dimly lit and eerily quiet, with only the ticking of the clock on the mantle breaking the silence. Old Mrs. Sullivan, Olivia, and Mindy sat together, their faces etched with worry.
Old Mrs. Sullivan, sitting in an armchair, clutched a lace handkerchief. Her eyes dart anxiously to the clock.
"Jacob should have been back hours ago," she muttered, her voice thick with concern. "It's not like him to stay out this late without any word. I'm so worried about him."
The room's silence seemed to grow heavier as the minutes ticked by. Mindy, perched on the edge of the sofa, stared blankly at the floor, her mind racing with anxiety.
"Where are you, Dad?" she thought, her heart pounding with worry. "I really hope you're not out drinking again. Not after everything that's happened. Please, not this time."
