Chapter 3 — A Promise That Changed Two Lives
The emergency room smelled of antiseptic and fresh coffee.
Ethan sat quietly on the examination bed while a nurse wrapped clean white bandages around his hand.
He never complained.
Never cried.
Even when disinfectant touched the open wound.
Vivian watched from the doorway.
Her daughter, Lily, had already fallen asleep in her arms.
The doctor approached with a gentle expression.
"He'll recover."
Then his face became more serious.
"He's severely underweight."
"Judging by his condition..."
"I'd say he hasn't had regular meals for quite some time."
Vivian closed her eyes.
Those words haunted her.
After Ethan finished treatment, a social worker arrived.
She already knew him.
Again.
The realization was devastating.
"He's been sleeping wherever he can," she explained softly.
"Sometimes behind restaurants."
"Sometimes at the bus terminal."
"There have been attempts to place him..."
"But he always disappears."
Vivian frowned.
"Why?"
The answer came from Ethan himself.
"They separate kids."
"If they find my little sister..."
"...they'll send us somewhere different."
Vivian's breath caught.
"You have a sister?"
He nodded.
"Emma."
"She's five."
"I leave food for her every night."
The room fell completely silent.
Even the nurse stopped writing.
Vivian slowly knelt until she was at eye level with him.
"Where is she?"
Ethan hesitated.
His voice became almost too quiet to hear.
"An abandoned church."
"I told her to stay hidden."
Without another word...
Vivian stood.
"We're going."
The social worker blinked.
"Now?"
"Now."
Rain had begun falling by the time they reached the abandoned chapel on the edge of the city.
Inside...
Curled beneath a broken wooden pew...
A tiny blonde girl clutched a stuffed rabbit missing one ear.
She woke instantly when she heard footsteps.
Fear filled her eyes.
Until Ethan whispered...
"It's okay, Emma."
"I came back."
She threw herself into his arms.
May you like
Vivian looked away.
She suddenly couldn't stop the tears.
