chapter 31

Benjamin —-

She refused to eat, barely slept, and clung to me as if I were the only connection she had left in this world.

I tried my best to provide comfort and stability for her, but I felt helpless in the face of her grief. "Sweetheart, I promise you, we will find Mommy," I would whisper to her every night as she fell asleep in my arms. But the words rang hollow, even to my own ears.

At mid night, as Sofia tossed and turned in her sleep, whimpering for her mother, my frustration got the better of me. I paced the room, my mind racing with thoughts of how to make her stop, how to ease her pain.

And then it hit me. I remembered the lullaby Irene used to sing to Sofia every night. It was a simple melody, but it always seemed to bring a sense of calm and peace to Sofia's restless soul.

I sat down on the edge of Sofia's bed, gently stroking her hair. With a trembling voice, I began to sing the lullaby, the lyrics flowing from my lips li