A month had passed since Rio was rescued. Life had returned to normal—or as normal as it could be.

Rio woke up early, the sunlight shining through his window. He could hear his mother in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The familiar smell of pancakes filled the air as he got out of bed, stretching.

After breakfast, Rio grabbed his school bag and left for school. He wasn’t the same as before—he was a sensation. The news had covered his story, and his survival at sea became something everyone talked about. People called him brave, strong, and even a hero.

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He had written a book, ‘Echoes in the Ice’, about his experience on the raft and his time in the Arctic. It was a bestseller, but Rio didn’t think of himself as a hero. He was just a boy who had survived.

At school, he hung out with Arnoll, who had joined Rio’s school. They joked about old times, and for the first time in months, Rio felt like just another kid. He sat through classes, listened to his teachers, and laughed with his friends.

He had his life back.

And though he would never forget the storm or the days he spent lost at sea, Rio was ready for the next chapter. The ordinary life he had dreamed about was finally his.