Ezra had gulped down his dinner in no time and disappeared just as quickly.

Pausing briefly before entering his room, he leaned over the banister.

– It was delicious, Mom! he yelled.

No sooner had he shut his door than he hastened to search under his mattress, between the box spring and a blanket. He pulled out a small photo album and began flipping through it, a ritual he performed every night before bed. 

He quickly glanced at the photos of his mother, his sister, and himself, pausing at the same picture he did yesterday and would again tomorrow: a man with brown hair. This man, with a lean yet strong build, wore a simple shirt and sleek black pants. Next to him was a blond man with a wide smile. Both appeared to be laughing heartily. Ezra had never met this second blond man, but his mother had told him it was his godfather, his father's closest and inseparable friend.

Ezra gazed at the man with brown hair, smiling.

– Hi, Dad, he whispered softly. 

He paused briefly, as if expecting the man in the photo to wave back, and continued:

– School was a bit chaotic today…

He waited a moment, as though the photo and its subject might absorb his words, then went on.

– I got into a little scuffle, but it was nothing serious. And you know, I held my own, just like you would have! 

He half-expected a response, and, as always, felt a tinge of disappointment when none came. The photo remained just a photo, yet he always sensed that somehow his father was reaching out to him. Not in words, perhaps, but sometimes he acted instinctively and thought that these actions were guided by his father. As if his father were inside him, steering his steps and decisions... Maybe that's what people meant when they said he resembled his father! Believing this brought him comfort.

After a brief 'conversation', he carefully put the album away and turned off the light. It wasn't too late, but the day had left him utterly drained.

He had just fallen asleep when the sound of the doorbell startled him awake. In an instant, he was wondering, certain he hadn't done anything to upset a neighbor or anyone else. Who could it be at this hour? It must be that clumsy oaf who keeps hovering around Mom, he thought angrily, annoyed at the thought that his mother might find this man appealing. 

Curiosity soon had him leaping out of bed and cracking his bedroom door open. The visitor's voice was unfamiliar to him. Soon, his mother's sobs drowned out the woman's words:

– Elena, I understand what you're going through, the woman said gently.

– And how could you possibly understand?  Elena retorted, her voice rising.

And how could you know? Elena cut in, screaming. You don't know what it's like to be ripped from your husband and now my daughter!

– Yes, the woman replied calmly, I do understand, and so do all of us. We were deeply affected as well. I was very close to your husband, and your daughter was a dear student of mine, Elena. 

– And yet you did nothing for him or for her! Elena exclaimed. 

Ezra edged closer on the landing to better overhear the conversation, trembling. Had he heard correctly? What had happened to Maya?

A heavy silence fell in the room.

Elena continued, her voice cutting like a blade, 

– I entrusted you with the love of my life and now my precious daughter. You've torn apart a family and you still have the audacity to show your face here. Leave and never return.

Elena's words were as sharp as a knife. The woman rose and left the living room. Ezra saw only a silhouette in a black robe.

Elena opened the door. 

As she was leaving, the lady handed her a card. 

– Here are the coordinates, if you want to retrieve Maya's things.

Elena took the card without answering. 

She closed the door and leaned against it, trembling, with her eyes closed. 

Ezra had silently sneaked into his room. 

His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, trying to piece together the fragments of the conversation he had overheard. The room seemed to spin around him as he sat on his bed, his heart racing.

Slowly, the adrenaline began to ebb, and exhaustion crept in. His eyes grew heavy, and the room's familiar shadows blended into a darkness, Ezra, slipped into a dream.

He found himself running on a narrow white path, surrounded by darkness and fog, unable to see more than 5 meters ahead. Something was chasing him, shouting unintelligible things. 

He came to an abrupt stop. The path ended abruptly in front of a vast abyss whose depth was invisible. Trapped, Ezra saw two masked, misshapen shadows catch up to him. 

Suddenly, one of them turned their hand and a black beam shot from the palm. 

Without full control over his body, Ezra raised his hand defensively, feeling something penetrate deeply into his arm for a brief moment.  

In that short instant, a transparent, viscous liquid enveloped his hand, extending into the air. 

A loud rumble echoed as the dark matter clashed violently against a newly formed shining silver shield, deflecting the beam. The sheer power of the spell caused Ezra's hair to stand on end, even with the protective shield.

Miraculously, the spell didn't harm his hand. However, a high-pitched, squeak-like sound emerged from the point of impact, resonating eerily throughout the dream space.

Paralysis then gripped Ezra’s arm, swiftly spreading to every muscle in his body. His strength ebbed away under the shock's intensity. Battling fatigue and confusion, he pondered the consequences of losing consciousness in this unknown battle.

Amidst the chaos, a terrifying moan echoed in his mind, clouding his thoughts. Suddenly, a warm, reassuring hand touched his shoulder. It bore an emerald ring. Though he couldn't bring himself to look directly at the face it belonged to, he felt a wave of benevolence wash over him, offering a momentary respite from the fear.

He woke up abruptly, breathing noisily and unevenly, still haunted by the images of the dream. His pajamas were soaked in sweat. It was just a nightmare. He got out of bed and tried to open his closet to change. Oddly, his left hand was numb and unresponsive, but there was no pain. 

Yawning, he lay back down, then noticed his door was slightly open. He disliked sleeping with the door ajar. Just as he was about to close the door, he noticed light spilling from his mother's room. He stepped out and walked a few steps; the living room was empty. Silently descending the stairs, he followed the voice to his mother's room door. 

Ezra's heart sank: the voice was that of his mother crying. Simultaneously, he felt a heat, almost a burn, in his right hand, which was holding the album. Opening it to his father's picture, he was startled to see something had changed: his father seemed to be looking up at his mother. 

Was it a message? Was his father asking him to do what he couldn't — to look after her? Or to go to her immediately? Perhaps it was both, but Ezra didn't ponder for long: he slowly opened the bedroom door. 

Elena was on her knees, softly crying, caressing a long velvet coat. 

Her tearful eyes stared at the fabric. 

– James, I wish you were here. You... I couldn't protect our daughter; it's too hard without you. I miss you so much, she lamented.  

A chill passed through Ezra's body. 

– Mom, what happened to Maya?" he asked in a trembling voice. 

She looked around, astonished. Ezra stepped back, but it was too late. 

Unexpectedly, she didn't scold him. Trying to smile without anger, she said: 

– Why can't you sleep, sweetheart? Come here, climb into bed.

Ezra was shaking, tears streaming down his cheeks, but he was determined to discover the truth.

– Mom, where is Maya, I want to see my sister. 

His mother stood up without a word and hugged him tightly. 

– Ezra, your sister was suffering a lot from a heavy burden, the one left by your father, she said in a tender voice. 

Ezra nodded. 

– She carried that weight alone so that we could live in peace. 

– Like dad? he said in a weak voice. 

– Yes, and now she's no longer in pain, she retorted.  

– So ... Ezra could not bring himself to follow his thoughts. 

– Yes my boy, she’s no longer with us. 

Elena held Ezra back, who collapsed to the ground, his muscles paralyzed by the news. 

After a few minutes, she carried him to her room and stayed with him for a long time. When she felt he was about to fall asleep, she kissed his forehead and whispered to him, placing her hand on his heart:  

– Never forget my Ezra, they will always be with you here and watch over you. 

Elena was also devastated, but she had to stay strong, she had to carry on Ezra and Lily.