My eyelids fluttered softly, a faint flicker-flicker as my consciousness drifted between sleep and wakefulness.

The world slowly came into focus as my lashes fluttered like the wings of a fragile moth, hesitant to fully open.

I pushed myself off the bed and sat at the edges. My fingers found their way through my hair, the strands slipping between fingers as if trying to soothe the mess of thoughts in my mind.

My mind was still a chaotic mess. My thoughts tangled like a bunch of wires joined.

I glanced at side and saw Sylv still asleep. She was muttering something.

Closing in I tried to hear

" Mamaaa. No!! " She muttered.

My heart skipped a beat. The mere thought of Lily and the tragedy that unfolded that day sent a piercing pain through my chest.

I clutched at it desperately, as if I could somehow restrain my heart from breaking free.

It's been two days since that horrific event. Lily was no longer here. My wife, my love, was gone.

It still feels surreal. The fact that I'll never see her smiling face again.

Her laughter, once a constant source of comfort, is now a haunting echo of what used to be.

Her voice, which could soothe me with just a word, now an empty void.

She won't be here to console me when the world feels too heavy, nor to scold me with that tender frustration that was uniquely hers.

Her annoyed face and the moments when she and Sylv would team up against me flashed through my mind.

A soft, pained "heh" escaped my lips, the sound echoing the ache of her absence.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. Tears streamed down my face, each drop heavy with the weight of my grief. My vision was a haze of salt and sorrow, and every blink only seemed to deepen the ache. The raw, unrelenting pain felt like a vice tightening around my chest, squeezing out any remnants of solace.

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The thought of her not being here with me was cruel , leaving me in a world that feels colder and more hollow with every passing moment.

" hhuuuunnn "

With a shuddering breath, I forced myself to the bathroom. My mind reeled with fragmented images of that day, each memory a jagged shard of agony that pierced my already shattered heart.

---

The coldness of the shower helped calm my mind. My thoughts were clearer, and I could think .. better.

When I emerged, I found Sylvie awake, her eyes fixed on a portrait . Our family portrait.

There was a rush of pain and I could feel palpations of my heart . I rushed to her and pulled her into my arms. We stayed like that for a while.

"Sylv, are you alright?" I asked, my voice soft and tender.

I tried to mask the pain as best as I could.

"Mm-hmm," she nodded.

"Alright then. Take a bath, and I'll make us some breakfast."

I turned toward the door, but felt someone tug at the sleeves of my shirt. Looking down, it was Sylvie.

"Papa, where is Mama?"

Her voice trembled with fear and dread, as if she already knew the answer might be too painful to bear.

The question caught me off guard. I struggled to form words. No sound came out of my mouth. For a second there was just silence.

"Mama had some work, remember? She hasn't come home yet.

I -

I talked to her, and she said she would be back soon."

My voice cracked slightly. I didn't want to lie to her, but I had no choice. I kissed her gently on the forehead and offered her a weak smile before heading to the kitchen.

I heard her footsteps , but I didn't turn around. I was afraid .. afraid that if I did, I would break down completely in front of her.

---

We had our breakfast mostly in silence. I tried initiating a conversation here and there but Sylv was reserved.

She was never the taciturn type and this change ached .

After breakfast, Sylv and I both went to the cafe.

I was reluctant to send her school for some time. She needed me and I needed her.

My heart wasn't ready to keep her away from my sight , even for a second .

There weren't many customers, mostly just the regulars. While Sylvie played quietly at a table, my thoughts wandered.

I couldn't shake the memory of the creature's chilling words:

"Your past has come to haunt you."

What could that mean? At first, I assumed it was about my job, but it felt far more complex than that.

This creature was powerful, and this was our first encounter. I was certain of it.

The way he spoke of the past, his tone, and his manner .. there was no hint of personal vendetta.

It seemed more profound, as though it carried a deeper significance.

It didn't seem to be personal. It felt like a mission, an order. His eyes darted around, as if searching for something. He believed I possessed it.

But what could it be?

Questions swirled, unanswered and elusive.

Just like that, night fell upon us, and we came home. We had dinner, and I put Sylv to sleep, lying beside her.

My eyes kept drifting to the same family portrait. As my thoughts ran deep, I came to a decision.

---

I picked up the frame and carefully pried it open. Hidden behind the photograph was a number , an echo from my past.

I never imagined I'd need it again, but there was no other choice.

I dialed the number.

My fingers still hovered over the receiver, as if the mere act of holding it would bring back the connection that had vanished .

The persistent hum of the line, each ring like a distant memory struggling to surface.

After three or four rings, someone answered.

"Toby," I said, my voice hesitant yet resolute.

"Sirius," came the soft, enigmatic reply.

It took me a few moments to collect my thoughts.

"It's time we meet again, partner. Come to the cafe tomorrow."

There was no immediate response, but I could sense his presence lingering on the other end.

" Heh " a low, dark chuckle rumbled through the silence, a sound that spoke of satisfaction and imminent plans.

The phone line was cut. A sharp silence followed, leaving only the echo of the disconnected call.