Are you sure? Your soul will be merged with another. {Yes}
Luka agreed, then said with a heavy, sarcastic voice:"I hope this is real... and I'm not just starting to hallucinate."
In the next moment, everything went dark. He felt like he was being pulled somewhere, and suddenly found himself in an unfamiliar place—inside a small body, short limbs... nothing like his muscular self."This isn't my body... Where am I?"
While Luka was lost in thought, the small body moved toward a door, drawn by the sound of shouting.The voices grew louder the closer he got.With heavy steps, he opened the door and headed down the stairs.He sat between the third and fourth steps, knees drawn to his chest, watching with wide eyes.
Down below stood a man and a woman—presumably his parents.Their faces were tight with rage, voices raised.The father waved his phone, yelling:
"Who is this?! Is it that actor you work with?!"
He showed her a photo on his screen—her and another man in an intimate pose.
The mother shouted back, her voice breaking, trembling with emotion.The argument raged on.
The child—whose name was Lucas—couldn't understand all the words,but he felt it.The house no longer felt like a home...It had become a battlefield.
Each scream shook his heart, so he shrank deeper into the shadow of the stairs.
Then the mother began climbing.Her steps were quick, but heavy with anger.When Lukas saw her, he fled and ran to his room,shutting the door with just a small gap left open.He crouched behind it, peeking through.
She passed without noticing him—her face pale, eyes red.She entered her room, and he felt momentary relief…But it didn't last.
Moments later, she came out again, holding a large red suitcase.Her face still pale, her eyes swollen.
Lukas didn't need to ask where she was going.He knew—if she left now, she'd never come back.
He opened the door suddenly and ran to her, his arms trembling:"Mom… Please! Don't go! Don't leave me alone!"
Tears streamed down his cheeks.She tried not to look at him, but his tears broke through her defenses.
She whispered what he would later come to see as empty words,spoken only to escape the moment:
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, my love... but I have to leave."
Then she added,"I can't stay in this house anymore."
He clung to her clothes desperately, as if holding onto his life:"Then take us with you! Me and Mia! Please!""Did I disappoint you, Mom? I'll try harder! I'll be the best in my class! Just don't leave me!"
He sobbed harder, clinging to her dress.
She gently took his hands off her, and with a sad smile, said:"I hope you stay safe, Lukas. Take care of Mia."
She turned toward the stairs, went down, and after a few seconds…The door slammed shut.
The house still trembled from the force of her leaving.
That... was the last time Lukas saw his mother.
Then came the sound of heavy footsteps from below.His father appeared—tall, emotionless.
He looked up at Lukas, still crying on the stairs.
Lukas whispered,"Dad…"hoping his father could fill the hole in his chest.
The man didn't respond.He simply sat on the couch,took out his phone,and acted as if nothing had happened—as if his wife hadn't just left,as if his son wasn't sobbing just a few feet away.
He sat in silence...A silence louder than all the shouting.
Lukas remained frozen, unsure whether to approach... or to hide.But one thing was clear:
He was completely alone now.
He turned back toward his room…But then heard something.
He looked back and saw his little sister—Mia.
She was four years old, wobbling with each step, but full of life.Her violet-tinged curls fell to her shoulders, and her wide black eyes sparkled with innocent wonder.
She wore a light nightgown and whispered:"Brother?"
She rubbed her eyes and asked:"Why are you crying, Lukas?"
He wiped his tears quickly and replied softly:"It's nothing… Let's go back to sleep."
He walked her toward his room, but she stopped and said:"I had a bad dream... I couldn't sleep."She looked toward their parents' room and added:"I want to go see Mommy."
Lukas froze, then whispered without turning to her:"Mom's gone."
She looked up, confused:"She'll be back tomorrow, right?"
He stared at the floor."No… she's not coming back."
She started to cry:"You're lying! She wouldn't leave like that!"
Lukas shouted in pain:"She's gone! She left us! She's never coming back! Don't you get it?! We're alone now!"
Then he paused, realizing he'd done what his father had—hurt her, just in a different way.
Mia sat down on the floor and cried bitterly.Lukas joined her, sat beside her, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
He whispered:"It's okay, Mia... We have each other."
"Just the two of us now. We'll get used to it."Then, trying to sound strong:"We still have Dad…"But his voice cracked.
Tears returned to his eyes.They sat beside one another,and eventually… cried themselves to sleep—not knowing what tomorrow might bring.