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The weight of those words pressed down on him now, heavy and suffocating, as he raced back to his room. His young heart pounded in his chest, faster and faster with every step he took. He knew where he had hidden the gun, tucked away carefully under a pile of old toys—things he no longer played with, things that now seemed childish and distant in the face of what he was about to do.
His breath came in quick, shallow bursts as he pulled out the cold metal. It was heavier than he remembered, its weight anchoring him to the gravity of his decision. He shoved it beneath his clothes, feeling its hardness against his skin, a reminder of the promise he had made to himself, to his family.
He would protect them. He would make sure no one could tear them apart.
