As soon as breakfast was over and everything packed up, Carlos called the kids, “Alright, Alex, Alexa, let’s go. Mississippi isn’t gonna wait for us!” The kids, still buzzing with excitement, darted toward the front door. Olivia followed close behind, her smile radiant. Carlos jingled the car keys in his hand and glanced at Olivia with a playful grin."Think we can survive the long road trip with these two?" he teased, nodding toward the kids.Olivia chuckled, tossing her bag over her shoulder. "Barely. But let’s get on with it before we change our minds."As they loaded up the car, Alex insisted on having the window seat while Alexa wanted to sit in the middle. Olivia stepped in with her arms crossed. "Alright, kids, no fighting. Alex, you’ll sit by the window for the first half, and Alexa will switch when we stop. Fair?”Alexa pouted. "I don't wanna sit in the middle!" "You'll get your window seat soon, sweetheart," Carlos interjected as he strapped them in. "Now, who's ready for

'THE FOLLOWING MORNING'The early morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the guestroom. Carlos stirred, his body relaxing in the comfort of the bed, while Olivia lay beside him, stretching lazily before reaching for her phone on the nightstand. She pressed the power button, but nothing happened. Her phone was completely dead.She sighed, nudging Carlos lightly, "Babe, my phone’s dead. Where can I plug it in?"Carlos, still half asleep, mumbled, "There’s a socket behind the nightstand... and another one under the window across the room." He rubbed his eyes, blinking awake slowly as Olivia sat up."Okay, let me find my charger," Olivia said, rummaging through her overnight bag. Her brow furrowed after a few moments of searching. "Carlos, have you seen my charger? I can’t find it."Carlos sat up, stretching his arms above his head. "I haven’t touched it," he replied. "Are you sure you packed it?""I’m sure. I double-checked before we left," Olivia said, now

As the sun started its slow descent, casting a golden glow through the windows of the house, the day was winding down. Carlos, Olivia, Raymond, Angelina, and the kids, Alex and Alexa, were all huddled in the living room, moving between there and the kitchen as they prepared dinner and caught up on the day’s events. The air was thick with laughter and chatter, the kind of noise that only a close knit family could create.“Dad! Dad!” Alex’s voice rang out, cutting through the animated conversation in the living room. He was tugging on Carlos’s arm, a hopeful look in his eyes. “Can we play baseball again tomorrow? Please?”Carlos chuckled and shook his head. “Alex, we’ve already talked about this. Baseball tomorrow is not happening, buddy.”“But why not?” Alex asked, his voice rising in pitch, clearly on the verge of throwing a tantrum. His sister Alexa joined him, echoing the sentiment.“Yeah, Daddy! We wanna play again tomorrow! It was fun!” Alexa jumped up and down, her enthusiasm inf

A few hours later....The smell of sizzling bacon filled the air, mingling with the warmth of freshly brewed coffee. Carlos stood in the kitchen beside his mother, Angelina, stirring a pot of scrambled eggs while his father, Raymond, toasted bread at the counter. The gentle clatter of plates and the hiss of the stove created a comforting, homey background. It was a rare and peaceful morning, the kind Carlos had longed for. He hadn’t been back here in so long, and after 13 years away, it felt like a small piece of home had returned to him.Angelina turned toward Carlos with a fond smile, her hands busy chopping vegetables. “I never thought I’d see you back here in this kitchen, helping me make breakfast again. It feels like old times, doesn’t it?”Carlos grinned, his heart warmed by her words. “Yeah, it does. You know, you always made the best breakfasts. Olivia tries, but no one does it like you.”Angelina chuckled, her eyes twinkling. “I hope you’re not telling her that, are you? You

A few days later...Olivia sat on the cold, hard stool next to Carlos's hospital bed, staring at his motionless body. His face was pale, his breathing shallow, and the machines around him hummed and beeped rhythmically, tracking his every breath and heartbeat. The room smelled sterile, the faint scent of antiseptic in the air, and the bright, artificial light from the ceiling cast harsh shadows across his face.She crossed her legs, her foot tapping softly against the tiled floor, her hands resting on her lap as she watched him. Her mind drifted, but the smile that tugged at the corner of her lips remained— subtle but triumphant. It's done, she thought, her heart racing at the thought. After years of planning, manipulation, and waiting, her mission was finally complete. The mighty Carlos Wilson was lying before her, utterly helpless.A nurse entered the room, her soft footsteps barely audible on the floor. She smiled at Olivia, a kind but professional smile, and then turned her attent