The sound of laughter filled the air, light and sweet, like a melody I never wanted to end. Tiny hands tugged at my fingers, and I let them pull me along, weaving between the scattered toys on the ground. The orphanage had become my sanctuary, a place where the weight on my shoulders felt a little lighter. Ever since my first visit last week, I had found myself returning almost every day, drawn in by the innocent joy of the children.
“Jessica, come play with us!” A little girl named Elara beamed up at me, her bright brown eyes filled with excitement. She was one of the more reserved children when I first met her, but now she clung to me with the kind of trust that warmed my heart.
“I’m coming!” I laughed, letting myself be dragged into their game. It was a simple one—tag—but the sheer en
