My desperate plea reverberated in the room, tears streaming down my cheeks and onto the floor.


    This was the first time I cried out so loudly since my mother vanished.


    Only in her presence could I unleash the full range of my emotions-joy, anger, sorrow, and grievance-like a child.


    But today, after I briefly reunited with her, she left me again.


    The torment, the suffocation, the never-ending darkness engulfed me, leaving me breathless.


    My beloved mother vanished before my eyes.


    “ARI”


    A hoarse scream tore from my throat as my body surrendered, crumbling to the floor.


    Tears flowed freely, unstoppable.


    I couldn’t remember how long I’d been crying; all I knew was that my voice had turned hoarse.


    As I curled up and wept, I heard the door creak open.


    Suddenly, strong arms lifted me, pulling me into aforting embrace.


    “Honey, what’s the matter?” Caleb’s worried voice reached me.


    “Why are you crying? What happened?”


    My shoulders shook as tears kept rolling down, and I stayed silent, shaking my head.


    Caleb embraced me tightly and asked carefully, “Are you upset because you haven’t found the clues you’re looking for?”


    I didn’t reply.


    Instead, I clung to Caleb, finding sce in his warmth.


    Finally, I managed to speak.


    “No…”


    With tears streaming down my cheeks, I sobbed, saying, “I saw my mother just now.


    She talked to me a lot.


    But then she left again, vanished.


    She said we’d meet again, but I don’t know when…”


    Even though Caleb couldn’t understand fully, he stayed by my side, offeringfort.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    “Don’t worry.


    I’m here for you.


    ”


    He gently caressed my head and said, “Honey, you’ll have another chance to see her.


    Don’t be sad.


    I’ll be here waiting with you.


    ”


    Despite his soothing words, doubts lingered in my heart.


    Would I truly see her again?


    Really?


    Would I truly have the opportunity to see my mother once more?


    As I drifted into a daze, Caleb’s soft words reached my ears.


    “No matter whates our way, I’ll be right here beside you.


    We’ve faced challenges together before.


    I believe we can ovee any difficulties in the future.


    Don’t worry.


    We’ll make it through.


    ”


    His reassuring touch on my back eased my distress.


    With Caleb’s gentle reassurance, my tears gradually stopped, and I started to feel moreposed.


    Gradually, the pain and suffocating feeling started to subside.


    Caleb let out a sigh of relief and handed me a tissue, wiping away my tears tenderly.


    Then, he tucked my hair behind my ears.


    However, he refrained from asking about what had happened.


    Instead, he expressed concern, saying, “Honey, you’ve been crying for a while.


    Are you hungry?”