Sophie stood in the doorway, her heart beating faster as she stared at the little boy standing in front of her. It was her nephew, Alex Jr., the last surviving member of her family. The boy's eyes were wide with a mixture of confusion and hope, and in that moment, Sophie felt her heart shatter for him. He had lost everything—his parents, his family, the life he once knew—and now, he was alone, facing a world that had taken it all away.
As she stepped closer, Alex Jr. ran to her, his small arms wrapping around her waist, and he began to cry. Sophie stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by the pain and guilt that rushed over her. She had failed him. She had failed to protect him.
"I missed you, Aunt Sophie," he sobbed, his voice breaking.
Sophie gently placed her hand on his back, feeling his small body tremble with the weight of the sorrow he had carried alone for so long. She swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to steady herself.
"I'm here now, Alex," she whispered, her voice raw with emotion. "I'm here. I won't leave you again."
Alex Jr. looked up at her with tear-streaked cheeks, his eyes full of confusion. "Aunt Sophie, what happened? Where's everyone else? Why… why are you the only one left?"
Sophie's heart ached as she gazed at the boy. She didn't have answers, and the pain of not knowing the full truth was unbearable. But she needed to know what had happened to her family—the family she had lost, the family she had failed.
"Tell me, Alex," she said softly, her voice trembling. "What happened to everyone? How did they… how did they die?"
The boy wiped his tears with the back of his hand and took a deep breath, still clutching onto Sophie. "I don't know everything, Aunt Sophie," he began hesitantly. "But the only name I heard over and over again was David. David… he's the one who brought the people who hurt us."
Sophie's heart dropped as she heard the name. David. The man she once trusted, the man she had betrayed Sophie's best friend with. It all made sense now. She had been used—caught in a game much bigger than she realized. Her heart was broken, not just for her family, but for the betrayal she had allowed to happen.
But there was no time for self-pity. Not now. She had to protect her nephew. He was the last piece of her family, and Sophie would never let anything happen to him.
She gently pushed him away, looking into his tear-filled eyes. "Alex, I need you to be brave, okay? Will you come with me? We'll find out what really happened to everyone. We'll figure out what happened, and we'll make sure whoever did this to us pays. Will you come with me, Alex?"
Alex Jr. nodded, his tears still flowing. But he didn't hesitate, not for a second. "I'll come with you, Aunt Sophie. I'll protect you. You're the only family I have left."
Sophie's heart clenched as she hugged him tightly. "We'll stick together. I promise you, Alex, we'll find the truth, no matter how long it takes. And we'll make it through. We're not alone anymore."
Alex Jr. nodded again, his small voice strong despite the tears. "I'll always protect you, Aunt Sophie. I swear."