The Canadian winter casts its icy spell outside, transforming the world into a serene wonderland. Snowflakes pirouette gracefully past the window, weaving a soft, white blanket over everything in sight. Inside our cozy room, the warm glow of a bedside lamp creates a gentle halo of light, warding off the cold. Anna sits beside me on the bed, her small frame nestled close. Her wide, eager eyes are fixed on the storybook in my hands, her anticipation as bright as the stars.

Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, Hansel and Gretel—she loves these timeless tales. Though we’ve read them countless times, Anna reacts as if they are brand new, laughing at the whimsical moments and tearing up during the sad ones. She’s just like any other kid—pure, unguarded, and full of wonder.

As I finish the last story, Anna yawns, her eyelids growing heavy. Slowly, she surrenders to sleepiness, resting her head on my shoulder. The room falls into a profound stillness, her soft breaths blending with the faint rustling of the snow-laden trees outside. It is in this quiet, in these fragile moments, that I feel complete. Her gentle presence is a balm, making everything else in the world feel distant and unimportant.

“Jack, can we stay like this… just a little longer?” she murmurs, her voice drowsy and fragile.

But those same words pierce through me like sharp knives. My chest tightens, my hands tremble, and I have to clench my jaw to hold back the wave of emotion threatening to consume me. For all the strength I pride myself on, moments like this reveal my vulnerability.

“Anna, I… I have to go. I have to find you,” I manage to reply, my voice quivering. The effort it takes to keep my tears in check is agonizing.

A true big brother never abandons his sister.

And this—this is no more than a cruel fabrication.

A dream…

I grit my teeth, my mental defenses resisting the overwhelming desire to give in. Whoever crafted this fake dream knew exactly where to strike, how to exploit the deepest recesses of my heart. The illusion is perfect, almost suffocatingly so, tempting me to linger in its comforting embrace. Every fiber of my being aches to stay, to hold onto this fleeting moment of peace.

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But I can’t.

Because I know the truth.

The real Anna is still out there, lost, waiting for me. This is nothing more than a mirage, a vicious trick designed to chain me here, and every second I spend indulging it is a second stolen from my mission to find her.

“Don’t go… please. Just a little longer. Stay with me,” Anna pleads, clutching my shirt with trembling hands. Her fragile voice, trembling with fear and desperation, shakes me to my core. Tears stream down her face, and the sight of her anguish shatters what little composure I have left.

Tears blur my vision as I hold her close, her sobs blending with mine. “I’m sorry, Anna… I’m so sorry…”

“Please, don’t leave me here alone,” she whispers, her words slicing through me like shards of glass.

Each plea, each tear, threatens to break me, but I force myself to endure. I have to. I don’t have the luxury of staying, not when Anna—my real Anna—is still out there, somewhere. Every second spent here is just another second wasted.

“I love you, Anna. More than anything in this world,” I murmur, running my fingers through her hair in a final, tender gesture. “I will find you. I promise.”

With one last, tearful glance, I pull myself away, stepping back into the harsh light of reality. The warmth of her embrace fades, replaced by the bitter chill of truth.

As the illusion crumbles around me, her voice lingers.

“Then… once you find me, can you promise to never let me go again?”

“Of course,” I reply, my tone firm, resolute. Then, my voice sharpens. “And thank you, whoever you are. But if you dare pull something like this again, I’ll fucking murder you and feed your remains to a hundred dogs.”

…

Hearing that…

The entity behind the illusion falters, its facade crumbling.

Though it looked and sounded exactly like Anna, I always knew it wasn’t her. The perfection of the illusion nearly fooled me, but the truth remained—my bond with Anna was something no imposter could replicate.

“How… how did you know?” the entity asks, its voice a mixture of surprise and confusion. “And since when?”

“What are you talking about?” I reply coldly, straightening my posture. “I’m her brother. How could I not?”

I don’t waste time seeking its identity. If it wanted me to know, it would have revealed itself by now. For now, its purpose remains a mystery.

With a final glare, I push the door open, stepping into the blinding light that engulfs me. The cold, cruel world awaits—but so does Anna.

And I won’t stop until I find her.