JACKSON'S POVThe festival grounds beamed with life, Lanterns glowing overhead, strings of warm light stretching endlessly, laughter and music filling the air.Stalls lined the streets—games, food, bright colors everywhere.The scent of grilled snacks mixed with sweet treats, and the sky above us was already beginning to darken, stars brightly peeking through.Frost’s hand found mine almost immediately.He stopped every few steps, eyes wide as he took everything in—the goldfish scooping, the ringing bells, children laughing as they ran past us. I bought him candied apples, and he bit into one, his face coloring in amazement.“This world,” he murmured, “celebrates beauty so loudly.”Maya watched us from beside me, smiling to herself.We played games—a lot.Frost laughed when I missed an easy shot, and I laughed harder when he won a small prize and looked far too proud of himself. Maya took pictures, teased us endlessly, and for a while, everything was…perfect.Then the announcement cam
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