The streets were quieter now, the morning bustle fading as Diego made his way home. Warm sunlight cast long shadows across the pavement, and every familiar corner felt both foreign and comforting. He inhaled slowly, tasting the air, fresh, alive, fleeting. Two days remained. His thoughts drifted back to Claire at school, her laughter, her boundless energy, the promise he made to her. She was the heartbeat of this small, human world he had stepped into, and he had only two days to savor it. As he reached the front gate, the house loomed ahead, safe, warm, filled with family. And yet, an instinct prickled at him, low and insistent. He paused, scanning rooftops, shadows between trees, and silent alleyways. The pulse of danger lingered in the air, faint but undeniable. Inside, the house was quiet. Mara had gone to run errands, and Thomas was already at work. Diego’s footsteps echoed softly on the hardwood floors as he walked toward the living room. On the way, he passed a mirror hang

The school bell rang just as Diego stepped through the gates.Children spilled out in noisy clusters, laughing, shouting, running, a wave of life so bright it almost hurt him to look at. Backpacks bounced on tiny shoulders, shoes slapped against concrete, parents called names, and the whole world moved with an energy that felt impossibly warm.For a long moment, he simply stood there, letting the sound wash over him.His heart tightened, painfully, quietly,at how beautifully human it all was.Two days left.Two days until this world slipped away from him forever.He scanned the crowd, searching… until he saw her.Claire burst out of the building like a spark of pure sunlight, swinging her backpack wildly, eyes lighting up the moment she recognized him.“Uncle Liam!” she shouted, waving her little arms with all her strength.A real smile touched his lips, soft, small, almost timid.But real.She ran straight into him, throwing her arms around his waist without hesitation.“You actuall

Night settled quietly over the neighborhood, the kind of soft darkness that made everything feel calm and safe. But for Diego, the silence only pressed harder on his chest. Every tick of the clock felt louder. Every second felt heavier.He sat at the dining after dinner table, Claire insisting he help her finish her tiny bowl of ice cream while Mara washed the dishes and Thomas scrolled through his phone.To them, it was a peaceful evening.To him…it was the last one he might ever have.Claire giggled as she smeared a bit of ice cream on his hand.“Uncle Liam, you’re not even trying!”He forced a small laugh. “I’m trying, I promise.”But even Claire could sense something was wrong. Her bright eyes softened.“You look sad,” she whispered.“Are you Okay?”Diego nodded.Before he could answer, Mara called Claire to take her bath and get ready for bed. Claire hugged him tightly before going.When the house grew quieter, Diego stood and walked to the living room window. Outside, the stre

Blue and red lights flashed against the walls of the quiet neighborhood, painting the street in frantic colors that didn’t belong there. What had always been a peaceful home now pulsed with fear, confusion, and the echo of a little girl’s cries.Police cars lined the driveway.And inside the house, everything felt wrong.Thomas stood near the doorway, breathing hard, one hand pressed against the wall as he tried to steady himself. His ribs ached from where Lewis had thrown him, and his mind spun in circles.Mara was on the living room floor, kneeling, her arms wrapped tightly around Claire, who was still shaking violently, face buried against her mother’s chest.“It’s okay, baby… it’s okay… we’re right here…” Mara whispered, though she didn’t believe her own words.Nothing was okay.Not after watching strangers drag their Liam out of the house while they could do nothing.A police officer knelt in front of them, holding a notepad. His voice was calm, careful.“Ma’am… sir… I need you