Esme took another step, her smile now teasing, playful even, but there was an underlying edge to it. She raised her hand, and for a moment, the entire room seemed to collectively tense up. Was she going to destroy the camera? Had she figured it out?
But then—just when it seemed like the whole house was about to implode—Esme did the last thing anyone expected. She reached past the camera, her fingers brushing against something soft.
A stuffed toy. A large teddy bear, sitting innocently beside the camera.
She picked it up, holding it in front of her with an exaggerated flourish, as if it were the most important thing in the room. The camera's lens captured every detail: the way she held the bear like it was an old friend, the sly grin playing at the corners of her lips. Then, with a casual turn, she took a few steps back, still holding the toy, still smiling.
