Evening skies painted the lake with a calm golden hue.

A gentle breeze swept through, carrying the scent of earth and grass still wet from last night’s rain. In the backyard of a small lakeside house, the sound of children’s laughter filled the air, breaking the quiet of dusk with pure joy.

“Eliana, don’t run too fast!” Hunter called out, laughing as he chased after the two kids dashing across the grass.

Eliana, now nine, had grown taller and more confident. Her hair was tied into two playful pigtails, her cheeks flushed from running and laughing. Behind her, her four-year-old brother chased her while dragging along his beloved dinosaur plushie....