Raphael enveloped her in a tight embrace as they both succumbed to grief. With their parents gone, they both understood the pain and found comfort in each other's arms.

Elissa sobbed softly, her voice choked with anguish. “It still hurts," she confessed.

Raphael offered soothing words of comfort.

At that moment, he had a profound realization that the person in his embrace was his wife, and they were meant to support each other for a lifetime.

Meanwhile, Brantley, unable to sleep, ventured to their door in the quiet of the night.

Witnessing Elissa's heartrending tears, Brantley's own sadness swelled.

Despite her earlier sternness, he hadn't expected her to cry. It dawned on him that he, too, had lost his mother.

His blinked back his tears and said nothing.

After lingering for a moment, he retreated to his room, clutching his pillow tightly as he settled into bed in silence.

He was still a child after all.

Tears dampened half of his pillowcase as sadness gripped him.

By dawn, Raphael rose to prepare breakfast. Brantley, being an early riser, made his bed, freshened up, tended to the balcony plants, and even tidied the living room. He showed a great deal of responsibility.

Raphael asked Brantley to the breakfast table.

With a child and a pregnant woman in the household, breakfast comprised nourishing fare of eggs and milk.

Brantley had been finicky when his mother was still around, accustomed to gourmet meals prepared by the chef, struggling to appreciate simpler fare.

However, recalling Elissa's distress from the previous night, he compelled himself to consume the eggs.

Raphael ruffled his hair affectionately. "I'll drop you off at school,” he promised.

Brantley nodded eagerly in agreement.

He dutifully drank most of the milk. Before departing, he called out to Elissa's closed bedroom door, “Elissa, I'm off to school."

There was no response from Elissa's room.

Raphael escorted Brantley downstairs, explaining, “Your sister's still asleep."

But Brantley sensed Elissa's wakefulness; she simply chose not to engage with him.

Dejected, he climbed into the car.

As Raphael ignited the engine, Brantley's sudden query pierced the silence. "Are Mom and Dad never coming back?"