"Y-you don't have to leave! I'm so close; I'm really close. I'll prove it to you someday. Just wait a little longer! Look at this video from just this morning—and I put bird seed out, so they'll come. And these bat sounds! Did you hear the voices?"

"Enough." Tears stung her eyes. "You don't listen to me. You never stop. This will never end. You're delusional and you know it. You'll never be a good father, and I was an idiot to believe you would ever be a good husband."

The wheels of a tiny suitcase thunked and thunked and thunked their way down the rickety wooden stairs.

"Where are we going, Mama?"

"Far away. Come on, Mary Katherine."

"But what about Daddy?"

"He has his own issues to worry about. He certainly doesn't need us."

"But—Susan, you could be instrumental to my research! You could analyze some of the material structures from armor I've been collecting!"

"I said, 'enough.'" She snatched the tiny girl away, lifting her from the ground. She towed the pink suitcase behind her.

"Aren't you going to kiss him goodbye?" Mary Katherine grabbed her mother's shoulder.

Radcliffe almost thought Susan would turn around, but she stayed perfectly still. "Not this time, sweetheart."

"We come back again," Mary Katherine said hopefully, squirming to get down.

He waved, biting back tears. Mary Katherine buried her face in Susan's neck as they left.

"I'll prove it! Then will you stay?" he called out.

Only the turn of the car engine and the crunch of tires on gravel answered him.