Alex sat cross-legged on the living room floor, his sister Rain beside him, her small hand gripping his arm. The sun was setting outside, casting a soft orange glow through the windows, and the house felt warm, alive with the laughter and comfort of family. It was a normal evening, one that Alex would never have imagined could be the last of its kind.
Rain, no more than eight, leaned her head on his shoulder, her thick brown hair brushing against his cheek. "Alex, will you read to me again?" she asked, her voice soft and hopeful, the innocence in her tone bringing a smile to his face.
"Sure," Alex said, glancing at the book they had left open on the coffee table. It was one of her favorites, a story about dragons and distant kingdoms, and despite his age, Alex had always humored her with her endless requests. He opened the book to the marked page and began reading aloud, his voice steady and comforting.
The world outside was quiet, still, as if it had no idea that anything would ever change. They were together, safe, without a care in the world. For those few moments, Alex could pretend that everything was normal. That nothing would ever come to break them apart.
As he read, Rain shifted closer to him, her tiny hand slipping into his. He paused, looking down at her. Her big, trusting eyes met his.
"You promise you'll always take care of me, right?" she asked, her voice small but sincere.
Alex smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I promise, Rai. Always."
The promise was simple, but it felt important, like it anchored them to something solid in a world that sometimes felt too big, too scary. Alex didn't realize how much weight those words would carry until everything changed, until the world crumbled and the promise became the only thing left between them.
He ruffled her hair, then resumed reading.
Alex blinked, forcing himself to push the memories back. There was no time for daydreams, not anymore. The world outside this crumbling shelter was no longer the one where simple promises and shared moments meant anything.