The orphanage was quieter than usual that night. Caleb, eighteen and on the verge of leaving the only home he had known for years, crouched in front of Preston, an eight-year-old boy clutching his shirt with desperate hands. The flickering hallway light above them cast soft shadows on Preston's tear-streaked face.
"Please, Caleb," Preston whispered, his voice trembling. "Don't go."
Caleb's heart ached. He had spent years protecting Preston, watching over him like a guardian. Leaving wasn't a choice; it was inevitable. But this moment, seeing the fear and sadness in Preston's wide eyes, made the weight of his departure almost unbearable.
"I have to," Caleb said softly, brushing a stray tear from Preston's cheek. "But listen to me." He placed his hands gently on the boy's shoulders, locking their gazes. "I'll come back for you. I promise. No matter how long it takes, no matter what happens, I'll find a way. You're not alone, Preston. Not now, not ever."
Preston's small frame shook as he tried to suppress his sobs. "What if you forget me?" he asked, his voice barely audible.
Caleb's chest tightened. "I could never forget you," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him. "You're my family. You're… important to me."
The flickering light above them buzzed faintly, the only sound in the otherwise silent orphanage. Caleb fought to etch every detail of this moment into his memory: the warmth of Preston's tiny hands gripping his shirt, the vulnerability in his tear-filled eyes, the way his heart broke with every second that passed.
He stood, pulling Preston into a tight embrace. "Be strong for me, okay? And remember, no matter where I go, you're always in my heart."
Preston clung to him, as though letting go would shatter the fragile world they had built together. But eventually, Caleb gently pried the boy's hands away and stepped back. He couldn't stay—not if he wanted to make something of himself, to come back for Preston with the strength and stability the boy deserved.
As Caleb turned and walked down the dimly lit hallway, the sound of Preston's soft cries echoed behind him. He didn't look back—he couldn't. Because if he did, he might not find the strength to leave.
The door closed with a soft click, sealing the promise in the space between them.
And as Caleb stepped into the cold night air, one thought echoed in his mind: I will come back for him. I swear it.