Her angelic face lingered in my mind, igniting feelings I couldn't fully comprehend. This brand-new emotion swelled within me, bringing a sense of anticipation for our afternoon date. Lost in thought, I was brought back to the present by a gentle touch on my hair.

"Your breakfast is getting cold." My father said.

I took my breakfast plate from the foldable table, setting it on my lap. The meal consisted of two eggs, a slice of bacon, a small portion of hash browns, and a glass of orange juice. I glanced at Jonah's cubie, noticing his parents were still seated beside his bed. Underneath his blanket, Jonah shifted until he finally pulled the cover off his face.

Jonah turned his head slightly, his hair obscuring part of his face. "Hi, mom."

His mother rose from her seat, her expression brightening the instant her son was awake. "Jonah! My baby. I'm so happy to see you awake. You have to tell Mama what happened to you last night."

Meanwhile, William began to survey the room with a wary eye. That's when I discreetly tugged at my father's shirt sleeve. He whispered back, "I'm already on it, son."

William got up from the couch by Jonah's bed and discreetly took a small pouch from his back pocket, subtly emptying its contents into Jonah's cup.

Grabbing my father's hand, I pulled him closer to whisper, "What did he just pour into Jonah's cup?"

Unexpectedly, The Godmother materialized behind William, deliberately knocking the orange juice from Jonah's foldable table, causing it to spill over William's lap.

"What the hell?"

The disturbance quickly drew the attention of everyone in the room, including the nurse who was in the midst of delivering breakfast. She hurried to her cart to grab some paper towels to clean up the spill but was abruptly halted by Jonah's stepfather.

"Hand those to me; I'll deal with this mess."

The nurse complied, passing him the towels, and then she picked up the cup from Jonah's tray, which still contained a small amount of juice.

William's behavior shifted to panic as he grabbed the nurse's hand, stopping her from collecting the cup. "I would like to finish that if you don't mind."

"The cafeteria offers a great selection of food, including orange juice. I'd recommend checking it out."

She managed to pull her hand free and took the cup back to her cart. My father gave me a knowing look and nodded, then discreetly exited the room, waiting for the nurse to complete her tasks. After replacing Jonah's juice, the nurse proceeded to distribute the remaining breakfast trays to other rooms in the village.

The Godmother gave me a smile and walked away. Jonah glanced to his side, holding a serious stare towards his stepfather.

"Mom, why is this man here?"

His comment sparked her curiosity. "He is your stepdad, of course, he is going to be here for you."

"I would like him to leave. His presence is not welcomed."

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William immediately got up and headed for the door. "Just so you know, the feeling is mutual," he said, shutting the door behind him.

Irritated by the exchange, Jonah's mother stood up, frustrated. "Jonah, why must you act this way? Your behavior was extremely rude."

Jonah remained silent, merely observing as his mother walked out of the room. Ashley, witnessing the scene from her bed, noticed Jonah sitting alone, looking forlorn. She didn't hesitate, leaving her cubie and running to Jonah's side giving him a comforting hug.

"I'm happy to see you're up. The festival is about to begin."

Jonah turned his attention from Ashley to me. Understanding the situation, I nodded at him, signaling that he was free to join her since I had my own companion arranged. Just then, my parents walked into the room, eager to head to the festival happening in the courtyard.

"Sammy, are you all set?"

Right as my mother voiced her readiness, a nurse entered, guiding Amanda by the hand. Adorned with a red ribbon in her hair, and featuring an angel pendant with spread wings, Amanda's appearance instantly brightened my mood, and a smile effortlessly spread across my face.

"Samuel! Someone has come to see you." the nurse said.

My parents warmly welcomed Amanda into the room. "What a lovely young lady, we're so pleased she's chosen our son as her festival companion. We'll likely join in on the games too—you understand how it is with us mothers," my mother said, her voice dropping to a softer tone. "We always have to keep an eye on our children."

Amanda smiled. "Absolutely. I am ready when you all are."

My father lifted me from the bed and settled me into the wheelchair. Together, we made our way toward the festival, with Ashley and Jonah following close behind. Amanda paused for a moment, gently placing her teddy bear on my lap. "He'll be safer with you."

Grasping the teddy bear with both hands, I assured her with a smile, "Nothing will happen to him, I promise."

Upon reaching the courtyard entrance, a banner welcomed us to the Fall Festival in Hopeland Village. The courtyard itself burst into life with activities: games dotted the area, clowns entertained, and a myriad of children engaged in the festivities. Decorations of pumpkins and straw scarecrows adorned the space, with leaves strewn about the ground, adding to the autumnal theme.

The nurse who had been accompanying Amanda took a seat on a nearby bench, allowing Amanda the freedom to fully immerse in the festival's joy. My parents, caught up in the festive spirit, headed towards a water pistol game, leaving Amanda and me to decide which game we wanted to try first.

"Which one should we try first?" I said, looking at Amanda for her preference.

"Bopping for apples? I've always wanted to try that game."

"I might need your assistance with that game. Reaching into the barrels could be a bit challenging for me."

Amanda gazed at me with a playful grin, "No problem, we don't necessarily have to grab the apples with our mouths; we can be creative with how we play."

My smile widened, realizing that our shared experience didn't hinge on physically participating in the game. Nearing the array of small barrels, we were met with a gracious greeting from the attendant.

"Hello, please feel free to choose any barrel, and best of luck."

Catching sight of the pin adorning the attendant's collar—an angel playing a trumpet—I recognized her true identity. That particular angel was the Godmother's signature symbol.

"Thank you, for watching over us, Godmother."

The attendant's expression transformed into a gentle smile, and then her appearance shifted into that of the familiar old lady. "Good intuition, Samuel."

Amanda dashed towards the attendant, wrapping her in a warm hug. "Hi, sweetie," the Godmother said, returning Amanda's embrace with equal warmth. "I'm happy to see you've made a good friend in Samuel. He possesses a vast imagination, much like yours. Now, go on and enjoy the game. I'll be here, ensuring everyone has a great time."

Amanda initiated the game by attempting to snatch an apple using only her mouth. After several unsuccessful tries, she resorted to using her hand, exclaiming with a triumphant grin, "See? I got one."

The traditional rule of the game dictates that participants should not use their hands to retrieve the apples floating in the barrel. Then, skillfully, she picked up the apple by its stem and held it in front of my mouth for me to take a bite. "I know you can do it, Sammy!"

As I prepared to bite, I saw an unexpected worm emerge from the apple. The worm wriggled around on the apple's surface, perhaps puzzled by the unusual movement.

"Amanda, look," I said, pointing at the worm.

She rotated the apple for a better view and, startled by the sight of the worm, inadvertently dropped the apple back into the barrel.