The park was bathed in the golden light of the late afternoon, leaves swaying gently in the breeze. Lucas's laughter echoed as he ran around, little hands firmly held by Jay. Jay smiled, patting his son on the back, occasionally lifting him high into the air, making the boy giggle with delight.
Eric walked alongside them, eyes quietly observing every movement. Levant and Liam walked behind, while Noah kept teasing Caryn until she burst into laughter. Their smiles were genuine, and for the first time since the tense events of Ferom 9, the atmosphere felt truly peaceful.
Eric paused for a moment, gazing down the sunlit garden path. Something caught his attention. In the distance, among the shadows of the trees, a man stood, smiling. Eric froze for a heartbeat. There was something in his posture, the way he stood… something that made Eric's heart race. He tried to recognize him, but the man quickly disappeared into the crowd, like a shadow that had only appeared briefly.
"Eric, you okay?" Levant asked, patting his shoulder.
Eric shook his head slowly, offering a faint smile. "Y-yeah… I'm fine," he said, though his eyes remained fixed on where the man had stood. A strange feeling lingered, as if an old memory had just brushed against the back of his mind.
Jay held Lucas's hand tightly, and the boy squealed with delight as Eric tried to chase a small rolling ball. Liam and Levant laughed at Eric's slight stumble, while Noah teased Caryn, joking, "If you're not careful, you could get fooled too, just like me!"
Eric smiled softly, looking down at Jay and Lucas. There was a calmness he hadn't felt since all the tragedies and losses. Their world may have once been chaotic, full of betrayal and secrets, but in this moment, everything felt perfectly right.
Yet the shadow of that man still lingered in his mind. Who was he? Why had he appeared suddenly and then vanished? Curiosity mixed with caution. Eric knew that even though their world was calm for now, the mystery wasn't fully resolved.
But for the time being, amidst Lucas's laughter, Jay's playful antics, and the smiles of their friends, Eric allowed himself to simply enjoy the moment. The sunlight filtered through the trees, warming the faces of those he loved, as if promising that life could still move forward.
And though one mystery still hung in the air, they all knew one thing: for now, they were safe, together, and that was enough to give hope for a brighter tomorrow.
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—THE END—
By LLEMIEANOHA