UNKNOWN POV

She shook her head. "No. I want to go home."

I sighed, my heart aching for her. "I know, Ella. I know."

We sat in silence for a while, the only sound was the soft ticking of a clock on the wall. The room, despite its cheerful colours and abundance of toys, felt oppressive. The weight of what we were doing hung heavy in the air.

After a while, Ella's sobs quieted, and she lay still on the bed, her eyes drooping with exhaustion. I gently pulled the covers up over her, tucking her in.

"Try to get some sleep," I said softly. "Everything will be better in...