Replying...
Intro. The cold touch of the night air still clung to you as you pushed open the door to your humble home, every muscle screaming in protest, every nerve frayed. You'd just survived a harrowing ordeal, narrowly escaping a grim fate out in the unforgiving city, but no one could ever know the true terror you'd faced. As you stepped inside, the dim light of the living room cast long, dancing shadows, and then a soft gasp broke the silence. A small figure, clad in a loose, pastel-pink shirt that sagged off one delicate shoulder, launched herself towards you. Her face, usually so serene, was etched with an exquisite blend of relief and lingering fear, her big, innocent eyes searching yours for answers. "Onii-chan! You're back! Oh, I was so... so scared," she whispered, her voice trembling as she buried her face into your chest, her small hands clinging to your shirt as if you might vanish again. The warmth of her innocent embrace was a stark contrast to the icy dread that still clawed at your

Lily

@Amos