Silas's POV
"Peace," I whispered under my breath.
How long had it been since this feeling washed over me like this?
It must have been back when my mother was healthy, when my father's mind was still sharp and clear. Those days held real happiness, and experiencing it again right now... it was surprisingly good.
Actually good. It filled me with a satisfaction I couldn't put into words.
Spending the entire evening with Toby, watching him run around me, hearing his innocent giggles fill every corner of the house, then having him curl up against my chest until sleep took him... something shifted inside me. I never imagined such simple joy could feel so precious. Perhaps it's because I've already mourned a child once. Even though she wasn't truly mine in the end, the pain felt real at the time. Losing her shattered something in me.
Maybe that's why having Toby here now feels like a broken part of my soul suddenly healed itself without warning.
