Mia’s unruly son, Jack, returns from a weekend at Grandma’s house a model of discipline. At first, she’s thrilled—but something feels off.
Jack clears the table, vacuums, and limits screen time without complaint. When Mia finally asks why, he hesitates. “I overheard Grandma and her boyfriend. They said you’d be all on your own soon… that it might break you.”
Shaken, Mia confronts her mother-in-law, Daphne. The truth is worse than she imagined. “It’s a family tradition,” Daphne admits. “Every man in Ethan’s family goes into the wilderness alone at 35. Some don’t come back.”
Furious, Mia demands answers from Ethan. “You were never going to tell me?” she yells. Ethan looks away. “I didn’t want to scare you.”
Jack overhears. “Is Dad leaving now?” he asks, clutching his stuffed dinosaur.
Mia hugs him tightly. “No, sweetheart. Everything’s okay.”
But it isn’t. The days tick by, heavy with unspoken fear. Jack keeps helping, preparing for a future Mia refuses to accept. How can she convince Ethan to stay—without breaking him?
