Ace sat in the living room, his piercing gaze fixed on us, and my grip on Mr. Panda tightened in response, trying to control my nerves. His anger was palpable as he directed his frustration towards Alex. “How irresponsible can you be?” he yelled, his voice filled with disappointment and concern. “Lily isn’t fully recovered yet, and you brought her to the fair?!”

The tension in the room was thick, suffocating, as the words hung in the air. I could feel my heart pounding, torn between Alex and understanding Ace’s valid concerns. I had been through a lot recently, and perhaps going to a fair with all its hustle and...