"Soon you'll grow old just like me and explore space to answer your own questions," Mr. Kadrew said to his son, Krimson, while they lay under the beautiful stars at night.

"I can't wait to grow old; I really want to know if aliens exist," Krimson said, his voice filled with excitement and wonder.

His father smiled. "Yeah, son, your mom would be really proud of you in heaven. Just have patience and believe with faith. Also, focus on your academics too. I believe in you."

Mr. Kadrew's words filled Krimson with hope and inspiration.

The bond between the two was strong, forged by a tragic event in their lives. When Krimson was three, his mom left his dad for some unknown reason and was later found dead in the middle of a nearby street. Mr. Kadrew was left in despair, wondering how he would raise his three-year-old son alone. After a few days of realizing that negative emotions wouldn't bring his lost love back, he resolved to stand tall and raise his child. No matter what, he made sure his son was happy. This was the genesis of their bond, even if the flashbacks of that traumatic moment still haunted Mr. Kadrew. Krimson always managed to make his father smile again.

One dawn, Krimson woke up in a panic, screaming loud enough for his dad to hear. Mr. Kadrew immediately rushed into his room.

"Son, what's wrong? Are you alright?" Mr. Kadrew asked anxiously, his thoughts racing with fear of losing his son too.

"Dad, it was just a dream about you... you died in some weird way, and I can't even remember it. I can't afford to lose you too, Dad," Krimson said, tears streaming down his face.

Mr. Kadrew pulled him into a tight hug. "Son, don't worry, okay? Everybody dies someday. But if I go before you, just know I'll always be proud of you and watch over you from above. Nothing can stop you from achieving your dreams and being the best, even if I'm not around." His voice wavered slightly, betraying his own fear of death.

"Okay, Dad, I'll make you proud. But please don't leave me while I'm still young, or I won't be able to thrive," Krimson whispered, his tears falling harder.

"I don't control my own destiny. If you want me to stick around, just pray for me. God listens to young ones like you," Mr. Kadrew replied.

"Okay, Dad, I'll always pray for you," Krimson said, sniffling.

"Now go to sleep, son. We've got a lot to do tomorrow," Mr. Kadrew said as he left Krimson's room.

At 7:00 in the morning, the alarm buzzed, waking both Mr. Kadrew and Krimson. Thirty minutes later, Krimson walked into his dad's room to check if he was still there. But instead of finding his dad, he caught the lingering scent of his cologne. Panic rose in his chest. He rushed to the kitchen, no dad. He screamed, "Dad! Dad! Dad!" but heard no response. He dialled his dad's number frantically. Each click of the buttons felt like an eternity, but to his relief, his dad finally answered.

"PHEW..." Krimson GASPED in relief.

"Hello, son. What's wrong?" Mr. Kadrew asked, his voice laced with concern.

"No, Dad, there's nothing wrong. You just forgot to say goodbye, and I was worried," Krimson replied, his breath still shaky.

"Hahaha... I'm fine, son. Nothing's going to happen. As long as God's got my back," Mr. Kadrew said with a chuckle.

"Hope so. Work safely, okay? Bye," Krimson said, feeling his nerves finally settle, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Mr. Kadrew usually returned from work by 3:00 PM, but today was different. Krimson scrolled through TikTok, trying to kill time, but each swipe made his fingers colder. Suddenly, he froze at a video about a man who had mysteriously disappeared, rumoured to have been abducted by aliens. Intrusive thoughts flooded his mind. Desperate for reassurance, he tried calling his dad again, but his calls went unanswered, deepening his anxiety. He sent a message:

Dad, please come home. Where are you? I'm scared.

Four hours later, a stranger replied:

I found this phone on the floor. I'm guessing you know the owner. Drop your location so I can bring it to you.

Krimson dropped his phone, his heart racing. He fell to his knees and began praying, tears streaming down his face. Though young, he had adopted his father's faith. Hours passed with no sign of his dad. Determined, Krimson sought help from a nearby police officer. After explaining everything, the officer immediately called the main office, and the case was taken seriously, as there had been reports of other missing people in the area. The police soon realized Krimson was alone. With no relatives found, they sent him to an orphanage. As Krimson sat in the back seat of the police car, he looked out the window at kids happily playing with both parents. He closed his eyes, memories of his dad flooding back. Each memory felt like a knife in his chest.