As the morning light filtered through the trees, Alexander glanced down at the little girl in his arms. Her small fingers clutched the edge of his shirt, her face half-hidden against his shoulder.
He found himself smiling at her, a warmth blooming in his chest that he didn’t quite understand.
They were almost home, and he wanted to know more about her. She hadn’t made a sound the whole way, just clung to him with wide, serious eyes.
“Hey,” he whispered, trying to keep his voice gentle. “What’s your name?”
She looked up at him, blinking her dark eyes in that same silent, watchful way. After a long pause, she opened her mouth and murmured something so soft he almost missed it. “Vi…” she said, her voice barely a breath.
“Vi?” he asked, tilting his head. But she shook her head, as if thin
