"Keep walking. Don''t look back."


    Sky was still calling Emma''s name when a soft, gentle female voice suddenly drifted in from the sea of blue flowers.


    "See how Emma''s doing now. Then, you''ll finally be at peace."


    The voice seemed to pull at him, and before he knew it, his body moved on its own, following the sound through the endless expanse of hydrangeas. The flowers grew taller, fuller, their brilliant blue petals nearly engulfing him as he walked deeper into the field.


    After what felt like forever, Sky emerged on the other side-into a new scene, where he saw Emma.


    Her long hair was let down. She was wearing a light pink tracksuit and was ying volleyball with a group of people.


    Laughter spilled from her lips nonstop. After the game, she headed inside the house, where everything, from furniture to appliances, was perfectly in ce. Then, someone familiar appeared.


    It was her biological mother, Cindy.


    "Mom, I''d love to have baked salmon for dinner tonight. Is that okay?"


    Emma grinned and clung to Cindy yfully.


    "Of course, sweetie. I''ll go and get groceries to cook for you tonight."


    "Thanks, Mom!"


    "You''re all sweaty. Take a shower and change. You''ve got ss to attend soon." Cindy smiled lovingly and patted Emma gently. "Be good and pay attention in school."


    "Got it! I''m going to shower now."


    Emma headed upstairs. Sky watched as she disappeared into a pink-themed bedroom.


    She went into the walk-in closet to grab some fresh clothes, then into the bathroom.


    The sound of running water echoed faintly. He couldn''t see her anymore, but he could hear her singing.


    "I love showers, bubbles everywhere,...


    "I love learning, growing every day,...


    "Flowers are pretty, I''ve gotta take care of them,..."<fn04fa> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F?ndNovel</fn04fa>


    Her offbeat singing made Skyugh out loud. It seemed like Emma was happy now, and that was enough.


    "Now that you''ve seen her smile, are you ready to let go?" the gentle voice returned.


    He nced around, but saw no one.


    "Who are you?" he asked quietly. "Will Emma always be this happy?"


    "She will," the voice replied softly. "Emma will live happily from now on. Mr. Sky, you can rest easy now."


    Tears streamed down his face. He wanted to speak, but didn''t know what to say. "Mr. Sky, it''s time to go home.


    "Retrace your steps. Feel the breeze and breathe in the scent of flowers. Remember Emma''s hydrangeas, a flower that symbolizes romance and happiness, which your future will be full of.


    "You can let go of the weight now. Follow my voice. It''s time to return."


    The voice was warm and reassuring, like an invisible thread gently pulling him back.


    Soon, Sky stepped out of the hydrangea field, and Walker Estate appeared before him. The voice guided him to his bedroom. As if in a trance, he took off his shoes and climbed into bed.


    "Sleep as long as you need. When you wake up, you''ll feel lighter."


    The voice faded as he closed his eyes. Soon after, he fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.


    ...


    Hours passed.


    At 7:00 pm, Sky finally roused. He hadn''t slept well in days and had been on the edge of exhaustion. But now, he feltpletely rested.


    There were no nightmares. He''d just had a solid, dreamless sleep.


    When he opened his eyes, he realized he was in Keira''s small guest room with a bouquet of blue hydrangeas in his arms.


    The curtains had been drawn tight, but a smallmp shaped like a hydrangea glowed softly by the bed. It was clear how much Keira adored these flowers.


    He sat up and stared at themp for a long while before breaking into a quietugh. He stepped out of the room with the flowers in hand.


    The streemps outside were


    already turned on. Keira and Lincoln were sitting by therge


    floor-to-ceiling windows. An electric hot te sat on the coffee table in front of them, a pot of cheese fondue bubbling gently atop it.


    Cóntent belongs to s


    The table was full of different ingredients, and Keira was happily adding them to the fondue.


    "Mr. Lincoln, try this meatball-it''s really good. When I used to hang out with Natalie, we''d go out for cheese fondue all the time."


    Sky cleared his throat.


    Both of them immediately looked over.


    "You''re awake, Mr. Sky." Keira stood up and ced a third set of cutlery and a bowl on the table. "Come join us for some cheese fondue."


    He walked over, and she pulled out a chair for him. It was obvious that they had set a ce for him from the start.


    "I figured you''d wake up around this time. The cheese just started melting, and here you are, right on cue!"


    She smiled warmly. "How was your sleep?"


    "I had a very good sleep," he said with a nod.


    "No more nightmares?"


    "None."


    Lincoln smiled broadly. "Sky, Ms. Chesson told me you wouldn''t have nightmares anymore. But if you ever do, you can alwayse back here to sleep."


    "Thank you." Sky nodded again. After spacing out for a moment, he realized something strange. Whatever heavy burden had been pressing on his chest for so long... was now gone.


    The lightness and peace were something he hadn''t felt in a long time-not since Emma died.


    Now, sitting between Lincoln and Keira, the smile on his face was finally genuine. "Sky, eat up. Do you want some wine?"


    Lincoln nced sheepishly at Keira. "Ms. Chesson, is it okay if we have a drink? I can have our driver pick us up afterward."


    Keira smiled. "Of course. I made some apple wine myself. It''s sweet and tasty, but it packs quite a punch."


    She took out two bottles of homemade apple wine and three elegant sses from the shelf to pour them each a ss.


    "You can have a sip, but don''t overdo


    it. There are cameras here, and I''ve spoken to Natalie-I''ve got to think about your health, you see. Still, think this is worth celebrating  s


    do


    "We''ll just have a little," Sky said. "We''re not going to get drunk or do anything


    stupid. Thank you, Ms. Chesson."


    "You''re very wee."


    Everyone understood the importance of what had just transpired.


    Keira raised her ss. "Gentlemen, enjoy yourselves."


    Sky lifted his ss and looked at Lincoln. "Lincoln, thank you. And thank Nat for


    me too."


    Lincoln raised his ss as he said sincerely, "Sky, here''s to you. I hope you find real happiness from now on."


    "I will. Thanks."


    They clinked sses and drank together in silence.


    Afterward they set the sses aside in sync. "Let''s eat. We''ll head out after dinner. Sorry for taking up your whole day, Ms. Chesson. How much do lowe you? I''ll have it transferred."  s


    "There''s no need." Keira smiled. "Natalie already paid me. If you want to reimburse someone, pay her."


    "Got it. I''ll give her a call when we get back."


    "Let''s eat." She encouraged them warmly and dropped more ingredients into the bubbling pot. The rich aroma of cheese wafted through the room, wrapping them all in aforting warmth.