That evening, after Michaela had settled down and agreed to tidy up her room with assistance, Joana found herself lying in bed, unable to succumb to sleep as the day's events replayed in her mind. Every time she closed her eyes, the haunting image of the enigmatic man from the mall lingered, but more poignantly, she envisioned Elijah's gentle gaze as he held Michaela close, his protective arm enveloping her shoulders.
Feeling sleep elude her, Joana retrieved her sketchbook, seeking solace in the act of drawing. Despite her ongoing work on another sketch, she turned to a fresh page that night, compelled to capture the poignant embrace between Elijah and Michaela in her princess attire.
Commencing with the rough outlines of Elijah and Michaela, a soft smile involuntarily spread across Joan
