ELYRA.
For the past few days, my heart had not rested. Even when I smiled at my parents, even when I tried to act strong, there was this quiet fear sitting at the back of my mind. It followed me everywhere like a shadow I couldn’t shake off.
Radiel had given me the money for my father’s transfer without hesitation. The next morning, I moved him to the care home. It was clean, peaceful, and close enough that I could visit often. I made sure his room faced the garden because he loved watching trees sway in the wind. I bought him new slippers, softer blankets, even that old-fashioned radio he liked to listen to in the evenings.
“Are you sure this place is not too expensive?” Dad had asked me, his voice weak but still carrying that fatherly concern.
I forced a smile. “The most important th
