Chapter 20: The Safe Haven
It was late Christmas Eve. The house was quiet, lit only by the soft, multi-colored glow of the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.
David had just finished wrapping the last of the presents, placing them carefully under the tree. He walked softly down the hallway, pausing first at Leo's room. The toddler was fast asleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady, peaceful rhythm, a stuffed monkey tucked tightly under his arm.
Next, David stepped into Lily's room. She was asleep, her red hair spread out over the pillow, the silver locket resting securely against her collarbone. David pulled her fleece blanket up over her shoulders, smiling as she shifted comfortably in her sleep.
May you like
He stepped back out into the hallway, leaving the door cracked just enough to let a sliver of light in.
David walked back to the living room and sat on the sofa, looking around the home he had fiercely defended. It was no longer a battlefield. It was exactly what it was meant to be—a sanctuary. He leaned back, closing his eyes, a profound sense of peace settling over his soul. The wall he had built to keep the darkness out had done its job; now, it just kept the warmth inside.
