Warren studied the yarn samples hanging on the wall, then pointed at one. "I'll take a box of that sky blue one up there."He paused, considering. "And two boxes in darker colors for the elderly at home. Could you help me pick those out?"The shopkeeper thought for a moment. "How old are they?""Eighty," Warren replied.She pulled down two skeins of yarn from the wall, holding them up to the light. "This type is very lightweight, won't weigh them down. Keeps the warmth close to the skin, perfect for older folks." She set them on the counter. "I'd say one box in gray-blue and one in deep burgundy. That should do nicely."Warren nodded in agreement. "Sounds good."Once the shopkeeper had wrapped everything, Warren paid with a smile and left the store, packages in hand. He found a restroom nearby, ducked inside, and tossed everything into his pocket dimension. When he emerged, he carried only two or three simple shopping bags, light enough to seem casual.<

Watching Warren hold Daisy with such obvious affection, everyone in the room exchanged warm smiles. Eleanor, who had been quietly worried about the relationship between her granddaughter and Warren, finally allowed herself to relax. If Warren doted on Daisy this much, he couldn't possibly treat Molly poorly either.The elders had no interest in meddling with the business matters outside the house. Seeing the young couple show signs of warming to each other, they all felt their concerns ease. Meanwhile, Milo had already crouched in the corner, absorbed in examining the books Warren had brought home. The room settled into peaceful contentment.Half a month slipped by.On the twenty-eighth day of the winter month, Warren delivered enough supplies to Whitaker Lodge to last through the holiday, then dragged Roy Hale along for a shopping trip to the county seat. By the time they returned, the truck bed was packed halfway full with holiday supplies, and Warren felt deeply sa

Warren walked home alongside Roy, the two of them laughing and joking the whole way. When he stepped through the door, he found the whole family gathered together, smiles lighting up every face, even those of the elders.The sight warmed something inside him. He paused in the doorway, taking it in.Lately, Warren had been questioning his past self more and more. Why had he let himself sink so low? Why waste years on bitterness when he could have been enjoying moments like this?He let out a soft laugh and headed for the kitchen to start dinner.Molly watched him go, something stirring in her chest. She set Daisy down beside Mabel and quietly followed him. The sight of him moving through the house so naturally, planning dinner before anyone could ask, made the warmth of the gathered family feel real in a way she still found hard to trust.In the living room, knowing glances passed between the elders. The young couple getting along, that was nothing but good n

Because Molly had fallen ill, Warren didn't prepare anything heavy for lunch.He heated oil in the wok until it shimmered, then tossed in finely chopped scallions. The aroma bloomed instantly. He added diced tomatoes next, stirring until they softened and began to break down, releasing their juices. Once the tomatoes were fragrant and nearly dissolved, he poured in hot water and brought it to a rolling boil.Warren had prepared the dough earlier. Now he tore it into irregular, palm-sized pieces and dropped them into the bubbling broth. Just before turning off the heat, he added shredded spinach and swirled in beaten eggs, letting them ribbon through the soup in delicate strands.He killed the flame and ladled the hand-torn noodles into a large bowl.At that moment, Milo Shaw returned home with Daisy, escorted by several children from the Hale family. Warren was just carrying the bowl toward the main room when he spotted them. He smiled and waved, then pulled a fe

Warren woke feeling genuinely rested for the first time in what seemed like ages. His body felt light, relaxed in a way it hadn't been since everything began again.Ever since his rebirth, sleep had been elusive. The moment he closed his eyes, images would flood back: Molly's face twisted in despair, Daisy's small body trembling with helplessness. The visions haunted him nightly, refusing to let him rest.But earlier, lying beside his wife and daughter, listening to the slow rhythm of their breathing, he'd finally surrendered to exhaustion. The familiar sounds had pulled him under into deep, dreamless sleep.Now he turned his head carefully. Molly and Daisy were still asleep, their faces peaceful in the dim light. He eased himself up with deliberate slowness, dressing in silence before slipping out of the room.Snow had begun to fall outside. The courtyard stretched before him in soft white, pristine and quiet. His breath puffed out in pale clouds as he made his