Michael Carter opens the front door and stops cold. What he sees doesn’t make sense. His son, Leo, is laughing. Truly laughing—for the first time in two years, since the crash that killed Hannah and left the boy confined to a wheelchair.
A young woman is gently pushing Leo across the living room, making ridiculous sounds and exaggerated faces. A stuffed lion rides in a small cart beside them. “Roar! He’s the bravest lion in the whole jungle!” Leo claps—weakly, but unmistakably. His eyes shine with a light Michael thought was gone forever.
Tears spill down Michael’s face. His keys slip from his hand and hit the floor.
The spell shatters.
Leo stiffens, his smile vanishing. He withdraws into himself, staring down at his hands.
“Who are you?” Michael asks, his voice trembling. “What are you doing with my son?”
The woman straightens quickly. “I’m Grace Miller. I started today. The agency didn’t explain much.” She glances at Leo, who avoids eye contact.
The shift is brutal—joy to emptiness in seconds.
“You don’t have to stay,” Michael mutters. “Just… be careful. He’s fragile.”