Karline’s POVBy the time I reached home, it was nearly eight. The sky outside had turned the color of fading ashes, a dull reminder of how long this day had been. My body ached from exhaustion, from running through the streets for coffee, from working overtime, from holding myself together, but all of that disappeared the second I stepped into the house.The living room lights were dim, and the faint sound of a ceiling fan echoed in the quiet.There, on the couch, sat my mother, Mamma Isabella, her eyes tired, worry carved into every line of her face. In her arms, Ethan lay curled up, his small body wrapped in a light blanket, his cheeks flushed unnaturally red. “Mamma…” I whispered, dropping my bag to the floor as my chest tightened. She looked up, her expression softening for a moment before sorrow clouded it again. “He was calling your name,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “All evening, Karline. Cried for you until he finally fell asleep.” My throat constricted as
Last Updated : 2025-10-08 Read more