Chapter

204

tension they often carried during the day.

The cabin was quiet, save for the crackle of the fire and the soft rustle of pages as Matthew flipped through an old, dog-eared book. Elyra and Dain were asleep, curled up under thick woolen blankets on the couch. Their peaceful expressions contrasted starkly with the Matthew leaned back in his chair, staring into the flames. His thoughts wandered, tugged back to the life he'd left behind.noveldrama

Years ago, he had been a civil engineer with a bright future. His days were filled with plans and blueprints, his nights with laughter and warmth. His wife, Emily, had been his anchor, a vibrant woman with an infectious laugh that lit up every room. Then came the accident.

Matthew clenched his jaw, the familiar ache in his chest surfacing as he recalled the screech of tires, the twisted metal, and the hollow silence that followed. He had survived, but Emily hadn't.

Grief consumed him, gnawing at his edges until there was nothing left but guilt and despair. He abandoned his career, his friends, and the bustling city that had once been his home. The mountains became his refuge, a place where the noise of the world couldn't reach him.

For years, he had lived alone, his days a monotonous cycle of hunting, fishing, and tending to his cabin. The isolation was a salve for his wounds, though it never truly healed them.

Taking in Elyra and Dain had disrupted that fragile equilibrium. Their presence stirred something within him, a flicker of purpose he hadn't felt in years. But with that purpose came fear.

He had failed Emily. The thought of failing these children, of being unable to protect them, was a weight he wasn't sure he could bear.

Matthew exhaled slowly, running a hand through his graying hair. He glanced at the sleeping children, their small forms bathed in the fire's glow. "Maybe this time," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

The flames crackled in response, the only sound in the stillness of the cabin.