THE HORIZON

Los Angeles, California, had always been home to the Carter family.

Their house stood in a busy neighborhood where the streets were rarely quiet. Cars passed at almost every hour, neighbors argued over the smallest things, and there always seemed to be some kind of noise outside.

For Felix Carter, however, it was home.

It was where he had grown up. Where he had made his best friends. Where he played basketball almost every evening until his mother called him inside.

He loved his school. He loved his neighborhood. And most importantly, he loved the life he had built there.

But his parents had started seeing things differently.

One evening, Evelyn Carter stood in the kitchen, looking through the window while Daniel sat at the dining table with his laptop open.

“We can't keep doing this,” Evelyn said quietly.

Daniel closed his laptop.

“I know.”

“The children deserve somewhere better.”

Daniel nodded. “I've been looking.”

Evelyn turned around. “You found somewhere?”

“I think so.”

He pulled out his phone and showed her a photograph of a house.

It was beautiful.

A large two-story house surrounded by tall trees, with a wide front yard and a long driveway. It looked peaceful—almost too peaceful compared to the noisy streets they were used to.

“It's in Briarwood,” Daniel said.

“Briarwood?” Evelyn repeated.

“A small town a few hours away. Quiet place. Good schools. And…” He hesitated. “The house is surprisingly affordable.”

Evelyn stared at the photograph.

For the first time in weeks, she smiled.

“This could actually work.”

Neither of them noticed Felix standing quietly in the hallway.

He had heard everything.

His face immediately fell.

“We're moving?”

Daniel looked up.

Felix stepped into the room, holding his basketball against his side.

“Please tell me you're joking.”

“Felix—”

“No.”

His voice became sharper.

“You can't just move me somewhere else.”

Evelyn walked toward him.

“Sweetheart, we're doing this because we think it'll be better for all of us.”

“I don't want better!”

Felix looked at both of them.

“I want my friends. I want my school. I want my house.”

Then he turned and walked away.

On the living-room floor, five-year-old Alice was sitting with a box of colored pencils beside her. She looked up from the picture she was drawing.

“Are we moving?”

Evelyn sighed.

“Yes, baby.”

Alice smiled.

“Will there be a garden?”

Daniel laughed softly.

“Probably.”

“Then I want to go.”

Felix stopped at the hallway.

He looked back at his little sister.

Of course Alice didn't understand.

She hadn't spent ten years building a life here.

He tightened his grip around his basketball.

He wasn't ready t,o leave.

Not even close.