The month after the silence ended the way it always ended.
Mara's birthday approached again.
The red circle on the calendar remained. The date was only a week away. The apartment smelled the same as it always did. The furniture sat in the same place. The broken vase stayed in the trash.
Eli did not change his routine.
He still went to school. He still returned home. He still did not speak unless spoken to.
He still did not open his notebook.
He still did not ask for food.
He still did not look at his mother.
Mara did not change her routine either.
She still sat near the window with her phone in her hand. She still stared at it without moving. She still did not go to the kitchen table.
She still did not speak.
The days moved forward in silence.
On the fifth day of the week, Mara's phone rang.
She did not answer.
It rang again.
Then again.
She finally picked it up and pressed it to her ear.
"Mara," someone said. "It's me."
"Who?" she said.
"It's your sister," the voice replied.
Mara did not move.
"We haven't spoken in months," her sister said. "I saw your post. The one you made on your birthday last year."
Mara's eyes moved, but her mouth did not.
"I don't want to talk," she said.
Her sister paused.
"Your son," she said. "How is he?"
Mara did not answer.
"Is he okay?" her sister asked again.
Mara looked toward the hallway.
"He's fine," she said.
Her sister said nothing for a moment.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
Mara's voice stayed the same.
"Yes," she said.
Her sister sighed.
"Okay," she said. "But I'm coming to visit. Next week. I want to see you."
Mara did not answer.
Her sister continued.
"I can bring some food," she said. "Maybe we can talk."
Mara ended the call.
She set the phone down.
She did not move.
She did not look at Eli.
That night, Eli returned from school and found a suitcase in the hallway.
He stopped in front of it.
He did not touch it.
He walked to his room.
He closed the door.
He sat on the bed.
He did not move.
He did not speak.
He did not write.
The next morning, Mara left the apartment earlier than usual.
The suitcase was still in the hallway.
Eli saw her leave.
He watched her close the door behind her.
He waited.
He did not move.
He did not eat.
He did not speak.
He sat on the bed.
At school, Ms. Hale handed him a sheet of paper.
"Your mother's sister is coming," she said. "She asked me to give this to you."
Eli took the paper.
It was a note.
It said: Your aunt will be visiting your mother soon. She wants to meet you. Please be ready.
Eli folded the note and put it in his bag.
He did not show it to anyone.
He did not speak.
He did not move.
When Eli returned home, the suitcase was gone.
The hallway was empty.
The apartment was quiet.
Mara was not there.
Eli sat on the couch.
He looked at the calendar.
The red circle was closer.
He stood up and walked to the kitchen.
He opened the refrigerator.
He took out a bottle of water.
He drank it.
He placed it back.
He walked to the living room.
He sat on the couch again.
He did not move.
He did not speak.
He did not write.
On the day of the visit, Mara returned with a different look.
She did not speak.
She did not smile.
She did not sit on the couch.
She walked straight to the hallway and stood by the door.
The door opened.
Her sister entered.
She carried a bag of groceries and a small cake box.
"Hi," her sister said.
Mara did not respond.
Her sister looked around the living room.
She saw the broken vase in the trash.
She saw the calendar on the wall.
She saw the silent apartment.
She looked at Mara.
"Where is Eli?" she asked.
Mara pointed toward the hallway.
Her sister walked toward the hallway and stopped in front of Eli's door.
She knocked.
"Eli," she said. "It's your aunt."
There was no answer.
Her sister knocked again.
Eli opened the door.
He stood in the doorway.
He did not move.
He did not speak.
His eyes looked at his aunt, then at his mother, then back at his aunt.
His aunt smiled.
She held the cake box.
"I brought a cake," she said.
Eli's eyes stayed on her.
She stepped back.
"I'll leave it here," she said, placing the box on the table.
Mara did not move.
Her sister looked at her.
"Are you going to sit?" she asked.
Mara shook her head.
Her sister looked at Eli.
"Do you want to come out?" she asked.
Eli did not move.
His aunt turned back to Mara.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Mara's voice stayed the same.
"I'm fine," she said.
Her sister looked at her for a long moment.
Then she spoke again.
"What happened?" she asked.
Mara did not answer.
Her sister looked at Eli.
"Do you want to come out and eat?" she asked.
Eli stood still.
His aunt waited.
Eli did not move.
He did not speak.
He did not come out.
His aunt walked to the table and opened the cake box.
She took out the cake.
She placed it on the table.
She looked at Mara.
"Your birthday is soon," she said.
Mara nodded once.
Her sister turned toward the hallway.
"Eli," she said. "Come out."
Eli stayed in the doorway.
His aunt stepped closer.
"Please," she said. "Just come out."
Eli did not move.
His aunt looked at Mara again.
She spoke softly.
"I think he needs you," she said.
Mara looked at her sister.
She did not respond.
Her sister turned and walked to the kitchen.
She took out plates.
She placed them on the table.
She looked at Eli.
She waited.
Eli did not move.
He did not speak.
He did not come out.