1 WEEK AFTER THE KAMAKURA EARTHQUAKE
***
Last week was hell. Taylor was responsive, but it killed to see her unable to eat a proper meal. She couldn't even move the way she used to. Rui cried over persistent aftershocks in the dark. He tried to keep it hushed for his mom, but a little child could only handle so much of this impact. After all, everyone else around him carried the same shock. Austin was constantly on edge after he found out what had happened. Derek dropped all the lighthearted jokes that I barely recognized him. Jack handled his fear better following his initial breakdown. And despite it all, Brandon, Cara, and Este put on a brave face because the whole town relied on our tech to carry us through. And we did. To this second, our networks functioned as the only lifeline around.
But we survived. While the worst of the disaster was over, the aftermath was its own monster. Taylor's concussion healed without trouble, and she regained most of her strength. But her ordinary routine was still too heavy with housework, screens, and exhausting her mind. Doctor's orders were rest and recovery. My wife wouldn't listen. In all our years together, this was the first time she was fiercely stubborn. Taylor rarely got sick, and she never had to depend on me this way. Somehow, she couldn't stand it. Maybe it was the lingering effects of the injury and exhaustion. But it bothered me, the way she had been acting recently.
"Tadaima." I walked into the kitchen and found her making dinner, while Rui sat on the engawa with Benji and Aki-chan. "Tay? Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
Taylor sighed, staring at the pot of simmering Japanese curry on the stove. "He wanted something different today."
"Okay?" I lifted the lid to check before turning the heat on low. "I was just about to make dinner."
"Well, it's ready now." She diverted her attention to the rice cooker, preparing to serve the cooked rice.
I reached for the bowls and gently took the rice paddle from her. "Here, let me."
"Karlie." She snatched the spatula from my hand. "Let me do it."
"The doctor said—"
"Oh my god, it's just rice," she said, breathing out slowly. "I can handle this on my own."
For a few seconds, I stood where I was. Then I stepped back. "Yeah. Sure, of course."
"Karlie," she whispered.
But I walked away from her space without another word. I focused on Rui sitting on the engawa instead. He was staring at the sky while Benji and Aki lazed beside him. It had been over a week of having him back all day without interruption. We had been wishing for this, for more family time. If only we could enjoy it like we used to before the earthquake.
I sat down beside him. "Rui-chan, tadaima."
"Okaeri, Mama," he whispered before crawling onto my lap. "Dakko?"
I chuckled and let him snuggle my neck. "Ii yo. But be gentle, please."
"Un." It took some time before he spoke again. "Mama's kare raisu, daisuki."
"I know, honey," I said, thinking back to what had just happened in the kitchen. "She made that just for you."
"Mama, daijoubu?" He asked.
Pulling away to look at him, I nodded. "How come?"
"Hm." He hugged my neck to watch Taylor this time. "Mama's sad?"
I felt my shoulder sting a little. "I think your mom's tired, huh? You know what would make her happy?"
"Rui?" He giggled. "Rui's very big love."
Just like that, I was laughing again. "Sou desu yo ne. Jaa, ii yo. Go be with her."
He got to his feet, then reached for my hands. "Issho ni, Mama. Bangohan da yo," saying we should do it together over dinner.
"Hm." I chuckled, glancing at Taylor who was about to call us over. "I'll try."
Taylor had a smile on her face when we took our place at the table. Out of habit, I served Rui his drink. And I was about to do the same for Taylor until I hesitated, leaving the glass pitcher between us.
"Douzo," I said.
She looked at me with a pained expression before doing it herself. When she set it down, we all said, "Itadakimasu."
Rui beamed at his meal, trying his hardest not to make a mess in front of Taylor. He looked at us, both cheeks puffed out with his requested comfort food. "Oishii!"
Taylor and I laughed, and she reached over to touch the tip of his nose with her finger. "I'm glad you love it, sweetheart."
Rui looked at me then. "Oishii, Mama?"
"Oishii," I said, glancing at Taylor. "Arigatou ne."
Taylor nodded, smiling at me for the first time since I got home. "Of course."
"Hai," I mumbled, focusing on my food. "Rui-chan, ashita kara mata gakkou da yo? Ready to go back to school tomorrow?"
Rui chugged his drink, then nodded. "Un!"
Taylor tensed beside me, letting out a sigh. "Does he really have to?"
"Hm?" I looked at her as I ate. "I mean. Everyone goes back tomorrow."
"I know that." Taylor met my gaze. Her eyes were a different shade. And they weren't pleased. "But does he have to?"
"What do you mean? We don't really have a choice," I said, reaching for my water.
"Why can't smaller kids stay home?" Taylor looked outside. "What if something happens again? How can they expect him to show up as usual? Do they even know what happened..."
The sound of her voice cracking made me place my hand on her thigh. "I know, Tay." After gathering my thoughts, I added, "It's why they're meant to go. Schools formally process what happened with the kids. He'll get proper support there."
Taylor looked at Rui. "And what about carpooling? Are you saying we're letting him get in that car alone?"
I breathed in, squeezing her thigh gently. "He won't be."
"Well, we won't be there to know." She shook her head. "How can you be sure he's safe?"
"Nobody's ever a hundred percent sure, okay?" I pulled my hand away and rubbed my temples. "We have to trust them on this, Taylor."
"He's not going alone," Taylor said. "If Austin has to drive him, that's what he'll do."
"Tay—"
"For once, can you trust me with this?" When she looked at me, I felt another shooting pain through my chest.
"It's not that I don't trust you." I shook my head. "Doesn't it make sense? Returning to routines is what he needs. Taking away that morning trip to school won't help."
"It's the same thing. Just with Austin."
"It's not, and you know it. He knows it." I breathed out slowly. "He has to face this."
"Oh my god, Karlie." Her voice raised just a fraction. "He's four."
Noticing the shift in her tone, I glanced at Rui. "Yeah, okay. Whatever you want."
Rui was diligently finishing his dinner, staring into his bowl. The silence that lingered after felt so foreign to our home. And I could not help but feel terrible for him. We knew he understood more than he let on. To be fair, it was not as if Taylor wanted this either. Throughout the meal, she tried and hesitated to initiate another conversation. I could tell by the way she shifted beside me. But I had nothing more to say. Nobody wanted this. Nobody asked for it. This was just how things were right now. And it hurt that I could not fix it.
Our evening went on. I let Taylor handle Rui's ofuro as usual since she insisted on getting back to moving around the house. But the dishes were always my responsibility, so I wasted time on them. Washing them cleaner than normal, as I got lost in my thoughts, memories of the day flashed again. The crashing sounds. Alarms. Dust covering the space. Immediately, the sight of Taylor on a stretcher followed. My breath hitched, making the cup slip from my hands.
"Fuck's sake, Karlie," I said, staring at the broken pieces. "Fucking get it together."
"Hey..."
"Shit." I jumped in surprise.
"You okay?" Taylor was holding a small carton of milk for Rui.
Looking at the box, I said, "Sorry. I thought I had more time for that."
Taylor walked to the sink. Then she reached for my hand to check if I had hurt myself. "Are you okay?" she asked again.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I retracted my hand to clean up the mess.
"Karlie."
"I'll be there to tuck him in," I said.
I felt Taylor's eyes on my back for a while, then she whispered, "Okay. He's waiting."
Because Rui was waiting, I finished up in the kitchen, feeling my exhaustion catching up too. My shoulder was mostly healed, but certain movements still sent tingling pain down my arm. The doctor said I had nothing to worry about unless something strange suddenly happened. Tonight was more painful with end-of-day wear and tear from everything.
"Omatase," I whispered when I entered the bedroom. Both of them were in bed, with Taylor quietly telling him stories.
"Mama, osoi," Rui complained I was late, pulling me next to him.
"Gomen ne. I'm here now." I chuckled and kissed his forehead. "Oyasuminasai."
"Un." He rolled onto his side to drape his arm over Taylor's waist. "Oyasuminasai."
Taylor kissed his cheek. "Good night, sweetheart." Then she looked at me. "Good night."
"Good night." I pulled the covers over us and hugged Rui from behind. The stillness of the bedroom made me long for Taylor's warmth. She was watching me through the dim hue of the lantern. I missed normal evenings with her when we sneaked out after Rui fell asleep. But trying to force anything now would only make it worse. She was exhausted, and Rui was back on his early schedule. Maybe all of us needed peace to rest. Giving up for the night, I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to come.
It never did. When Rui was fully asleep, I rolled onto my back. For another hour, I waited. Nothing happened. This time I got up, deciding a drink would solve the problem. With hushed movements, I sneaked out of the bedroom and went straight to the cupboard for a bottle of my favorite Japanese whisky. I took it with me on the engawa, closing the doors behind me. Finally breathing out, I poured my first glass. The alcohol burned in my throat. Something about the moment reminded me of Tokyo. When I used to stand on my balcony to end the night with a drink.
I can't believe it's been a decade. Shaking my head in disbelief, I enjoyed more. Given my track record with whisky, I had one too many. As the night deepened, the flashbacks came. Morphed with my fear of losing Taylor and Rui in random scenarios. My cheeks turned damp soon, and I set the drink down. If I had another drop, I wouldn't wake up in time for breakfast. Finally, my body felt sluggish. I left the bottle on the counter and my glass in the sink before walking back into bed.
Finally, sleep.
Small, familiar hands on my cheek woke me up the next morning. Already putting a smile on my lips. "Mama, okiru," Rui whispered. "Ohayou."
I peeked with one eye. "Ohayou."
"Hm." He touched my eye, making me shut it tight again. "Daijoubu, Mama?"
Remembering that I had been crying last night, I scrubbed my eyes with my knuckles. "Taiyaki tabetai?"
"Daijoubu?" Taylor echoed from the door while Rui basically pulled me out of bed with all his might.
"Yeah," I said, letting Rui lead the way. Without looking at Taylor, we strolled to the kitchen. The whisky bottle was gone. Breakfast was served. For one. They were done. "Hm. Nanji?" I glanced at the clock. We had about fifteen minutes. Shit.
"Mama, hayaku!" Rui tugged on my hand, telling me to hurry, reminding me of the time.
"Hai," I said. Then I chuckled at my obedience and ate whatever taiyaki I could manage before sipping some of my coffee. Looking around, Taylor sat in the living room. Waiting.
In five minutes, I was done and heading back to the bedroom. "I'll be ready soon, honey."
The moment I saw my reflection in the mirror, I shook my head. Fuck's sake. You look like crap. Now I understood why Taylor was concerned. But I had no chance to wallow. Even with my head beginning to throb, I made it just in time.
Confirming our plans, I asked Taylor, "Did you call Austin, then?"
"No." She was watching us from the couch. "Maybe this is what's best for him."
Nodding, I patted Rui's head. "Ii yo, Rui-chan," I whispered. "Say goodbye to your mom."
Taylor's eyes told me something, but she held back in front of Rui. "Can I get a hug before you leave, honey?"
"Un." Rui walked to her. He had the required bright yellow cap on for identification, and pinned on his shirt was an ID tag for contact and designated pickup permissions. Over his shoulder was a padded disaster hood. A thick, fire-resistant quilt to protect his head and body in an emergency. "Mama, daijoubu?"
"I'm fine, sweetheart." Taylor squeezed him into a hug. But the way Rui held on to her was not the same. "Come on, that's not the hug I want." She kissed his forehead. "What's wrong? Didn't you miss me? Hm?"
Rui smiled and finally hugged her properly. "Mama's not okay, da yo."
"All the more reason for this," Taylor said, running her hand along his back. "But you have to go now."
"Hai." Rui stepped back before changing his mind, planting a kiss on Taylor's cheek. "Daisuki, Mama."
"I love you, sweetheart." Taylor glanced at me. "Ii yo, your mom's waiting."
Rui ran to me, tugging on my hoodie. "Mama, hug da yo. Nande no hug for Mama?"
"Oh my god," Taylor whispered, making me shake my head.
With a slow exhale, I approached Taylor. "If I had a say in the matter, he wouldn't be leaving right now," I said, giving her a quick hug.
Before I could walk away, she clung to me. "I know. At least pretend you're still affectionate."
"I will if you stop acting like..." She kissed me on the neck, and my shoulders finally relaxed. "Okay."
Pulling away, she pecked my lips. "I love you." Without responding, I stepped back. Then she gripped my hand. "I swear to god, Karlie."
"What? I don't wanna smother you." Seeing the pain in her eyes, I sighed. "I'm sorry. This is stressing me out too."
"Okay." Taylor nodded and let me go. "Okay. We'll talk later. Be careful out there."
"Yeah, I'll be home soon." When I reached the door, I added, "Austin's coming over to check on you."
A slight smile formed on her lips. But she didn't say another word until we left.
Japan being Japan, the outside looked in better shape than our home. The roads were mostly back to normal. People returned to their everyday routines to cope. They did not linger. Each day that passed after the initial disaster, everyone got to work. They followed through with contingency plans. They met deadlines. They looked after their community. They made sure life was livable again. Yet even with the confidence that Rui would be safe to go back to school, we could not help but overthink. Through our walk, my brain struggled with the strain of letting him go.
"Mama, daijoubu?" Rui asked again as we neared the waiting spot. It was getting to him. "Rui wa warui ka na?"
My jaw clenched, and I knelt in front of him. "You did nothing wrong, honey. Your mom's just tired, and she wants you home all the time. Ouchi jikan daisuki."
"Mama and Mama wa?" He touched both my cheeks with his small hands. "Nande no hug?"
I let out a soft laugh, leaving a soft kiss on his cheek. "You'll see when you get home. Daijoubu da yo. We're okay."
"Hm." He kept his hands on my cheeks, observing my face. "Daisuki."
"Daisuki." I grinned and wrapped him in my arms. "Kiotsukete ne? Be safe."
When the car arrived, I said my final goodbye to Rui, asking everyone to kindly look after him throughout the day. Our decision to include him in the neighborhood community turned out to be the most essential part of this process. Rui might feel scared, but he was braving this world the best way he could with his new reality. Behind Taylor's apprehension, I knew she was proud of him. Her absence on my walk back stung more than it should have. The recurring unpleasant thoughts only amplified my anxiety. Our five-year separation had already dimmed my soul. I could not handle another cycle of not having Taylor in my orbit. One thing I could never survive would be losing her. I just wanted this chance to keep her safe and keep her with me. Was that too much to ask?
When I entered our gate, I glanced around. It's as if nothing happened. Yet I still had recollections of the headquarters shaking. Thinking back to that moment made me flinch at the sudden pain in my shoulder. Fuck's sake, Karlie. Get it together. Your wife needs you. Or does she? Maybe not.
"Tadaima," I mumbled, stepping into the genkan.
"Okaeri," Austin said from the kitchen.
They sat at the table with fresh hojicha and leftover taiyaki. Taylor nodded at my presence, but she remained quiet.
I made myself coffee as something to do. "How're you holding up? AK?"
"Slowly getting there." He cleared his throat. "You good?"
"Yeah," I said, stirring my coffee without looking. "Rui's going to be okay, FYI."
Finally, Taylor said, "Thank you. For talking to him. I'm sure he's scared."
Nodding, I sipped my coffee and went into the living room when Austin got to his feet. "You can stay, AK. Ii yo."
Deciding I actually needed more air, I brought my coffee outside, joining Aki-chan in the garden. This was not how I pictured things would be after nearly losing them both. I knew I had to try harder, but she would hate it if I had to do another thing for her. Rubbing my temples, I sighed and sat on the bench. Aki found his spot beside me, sitting quietly as we observed the house. "Is this also why you're here, Aki-chan?" After sipping my coffee, I scratched his head. "I know. I miss her too."
I walked around the compound to kill time. To clear my head. To let every thought marinate in my brain. Beyond this, we had Project 13 v2.0 on hold. And I kicked myself for thinking about work. Taylor and Rui came first. Our company came second. Right now, surviving the aftermath was our only priority. But with my wife withdrawing from me, I had nothing else to do. Back beside Aki- chan, I whispered, "Yeah, I really miss her."
Not knowing what else to do with myself, I checked on the team at the office. We agreed I could hop in anytime. But nobody really expected me to show up today. They were surprised to see me standing by the door. Looking like I just rushed my child to the carpool spot with a cup of coffee in hand.
"What do you need?" Derek asked from his desk.
I looked around. "How is everything in place now?"
"You're welcome," they mumbled.
Derek raised an eyebrow. "If this is you escaping your wife duties, get out."
The rest chuckled, and I let out a soft laugh. "It's good to know you're back."
"Taylor's going to kill me if you stand there for another second!" Derek got to his feet, gripped my arm, and dragged me outside. "She needs you. Leave."
"Fuck's sake, Derek!" I shrugged away from his grip. "Okay, let go."
Back beside Aki again, I closed my eyes and tried to calm my nerves. It took about an hour until Austin was walking towards us, gesturing for me to come over. With another deep breath, I made my way to the house, leaving Aki on his usual guard duty.
"How is she?" I asked, stopping beside him.
"She needs you, you know?" Austin offered a smile. "Even if she acts otherwise."
I nodded, staring into my empty mug. "I don't wanna smother her. She's always annoyed."
"KK, I know you're scared," he said before shaking his head. "I'd probably smother her too if I were you."
"I can't lose her, Austin." Finally, I looked at him. "I nearly did, and it fucking haunts me."
"I know." His jaw clenched. "I'm trying to get over that myself. Look, just do what you can. I mean, other than doing things for her. She misses you."
"Yeah, okay." I let out a sigh and glanced at the door. "Thanks, AK. For everything. We won't survive this without you."
He nodded before walking away. "Tay loves you. Never forget."
Of course she does. And you love her. Act like it.
When I walked back into the house, it was quiet again. And Taylor was waiting for me on the couch. Even from the doorway, I could tell her eyes were sore. The sight only made my chest sting more. Gently, I set the mug on the table before sitting cross-legged on the floor. Neither of us said a word for a while, and I picked at the tatami while waiting. I could not even bring myself to say anything.
"Karlie," she finally whispered.
"I'm here." I looked up, observing her face. "If you need anything."
She nodded, extending her arm to me. "I miss you."
It feels good to hear that. When I held her hand, she slowly got to her feet, glancing at the bedroom. "Okay," I said. "C'mon."
"I miss you," she repeated as we walked. Gripping my hand tighter. "Karlie."
When we got inside, I slid the door closed and led her to the bed. Once she was comfortable on her back, I took my place beside her. For a moment, I just studied her face, cupping her cheek and running my thumb over it. Then I leaned closer for a kiss.
"I miss you, baby," she whispered again, framing my face with her hands and leaving soft kisses on my forehead. My nose. Cheeks. Jaw.
Finally, I smiled. "I miss you too."
"Oh my god, good answer." Taylor smiled back before we shared our first proper kiss in days. It felt like a lifetime ago when she last kissed me this way. Our lips slid easily against each other. Tongues slowly doing what they did for pleasure. It wasn't long before she was softly biting my lower lip. Then her hands moved from my face to my shoulders. She broke the kiss, gently pressing on my injury. "How is this?"
"Not too much, baby," I whispered, flinching at the pain. "It's not bad. But it's still there."
She nodded, running her thumb along my lower lip. "I think you're making me dizzy. Literally."
I chuckled and kissed the spot on her forehead. "I'm sorry. You're the one kissing me that way."
"I miss you," she insisted, running her hands along my back. "Can't we do it? Slow?"
Considering the idea, I paused. "What, you're serious?"
"Karlie, I miss you." She sighed, closing her eyes. "God, I hate this."
Sensing her frustration building, I tried another soft kiss on her lips. "Baby, there's nothing I want more. But I don't wanna hurt you."
"I know," Taylor whispered, opening her eyes into mine. "I know. It's not the right time."
I kissed her forehead. Wondering if I could somehow help unload her worries. Then I snuggled her neck, breathing in the scent I had been missing all this time. Taylor's arms instinctively wrapped around me, softly touching my shoulder. Her lips kissed my temple soon after, making me kiss her neck in return. I closed my eyes and savored her warmth. Nothing else could ever make me feel better than being in Taylor's arms.
"I'm sorry I wasn't with you when it happened, Tay," I finally whispered after a while.
Her arms tightened around me. Then she looked at me, running her thumb under my eye. "Is that why you've been crying at night?"
"Yeah." I nodded. "And missing you."
"Natural disasters are just that, Karlie. Nobody's to blame." She stroked my back. "If anything, I'm glad I was with Rui that day."
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I squeezed my eyes shut. "I was so... I'm... I can't lose you, Tay." I breathed out. "Life has no meaning without you. Please, let me keep you."
"Baby," Taylor whispered, making me face her to kiss my tears away. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." Her voice shook, and she finally allowed herself to cry. "Your face was the last thing I saw... before it all went black. Rui's hand was my last conscious feeling..."
It was the most vulnerable she had been since coming off her medication. The image made my heart race. I pulled away slightly for air. Fuck. This is killing me. But it must have been worse for her. Anticipating the crash. Worrying about my safety. Fearing for Rui's life. Just like that, in one stroke of fate, her world changed. I could not even imagine waking up from something so tragic. But here she was, giving us all that she could to recover. Maybe even hoping we could get back to how we used to be before she got in the car that day.
"It must've been terrifying." Propping myself on my elbow to wipe her tears, I smiled, "But you're so fierce, Taylor Swift. Not even an earthquake could bring you down."
Taylor laughed softly before she kissed me on the lips again. "I had to live, didn't I?" She brushed her knuckles on my cheek. "It's frustrating to be this useless... but who am I to complain when I'm still here?"
"You're not useless." I shook my head. "And I'm sorry for making you feel that way."
"Karlie." She pulled me back in, wanting my face pressed against her neck. "You're not making me feel anything other than... I want my wife back." She tried to laugh. "Whatever it is, this has nothing to do with you. I'm sorry if my coping's coming across differently."
"Okay." I kissed her neck again and closed my eyes. "Okay, baby. I'm here. I love you so much."
"God, it feels so good to hear that," Taylor whispered. "I love you, Karlie. You're the reason I'm even surviving right now."
We shared another passionate kiss. It lasted longer. Our hands explored. And her touch unlocked that longing in my brain only to finally quiet the noise. Taylor was here with me. Keeping her vow to stay. To love me through the worst of it all. Before we escalated too much, I slowly pulled away. And even with the playful look of disappointment on her face, she found my neck as I wrapped my arms around her body. Both of us savored the moment. Taylor's breathing grew deep and steady in a matter of minutes until she completely fell asleep. Knowing she was okay, and that we were okay, my eyes slowly shut. For the first time since the earthquake, I was truly safe again.
We slept through the afternoon. If not for Taylor's hushed voice from somewhere, I would have been knocked out through the night. "Tay?" Her side of the bed was empty now. Gauging by the soft light from our curtained windows, Rui would have been home hours ago. I braced myself with both hands to get up, and a sharp pain shot down my arm to my fingertips. "Fuck's sake!" I squeezed my eyes shut in pain.
"Mama?" Rui's voice came from the doorway.
"Rui," breathing out, I looked at him. "Okaerinasai."
"Hm." He played with the side knot of his jinbei, probably wondering why I looked the way I did. "Mama needs you. Onegai."
I laughed softly and walked to him. "Of course. C'mon."
"Dakko?" he whispered, and then he shook his head and took my hand instead. "Hm. Dame. Mama's hurt."
"I'm okay, honey," I said as we entered the kitchen. "What's up?"
Taylor smiled, but her eyes studied my face. "Who's hurt?"
"Mama," Rui said, pointing at my shoulder.
Taylor walked over to peel my hoodie away and check. "The bruise is gone."
"Told you, I'm okay." I looked around. "Rui said you needed me for something."
"Hai," Rui mumbled and wandered off to the engawa.
"I do." Taylor held my arm and gently lifted it. "Does that hurt?"
With another shake of my head, I said, "Sudden movements, maybe."
"Maybe?" Taylor pinched my chin, seeing I was distracted by figuring out what they wanted me to do. "Baby, I'm trying to hold a conversation here."
I grinned. "I'm sorry. What do you need me for?"
"About your injured shoulder," she said.
Shrugging this time, I sighed. "The doctor said I'm fine. No need to worry if nothing feels weird."
"Isn't the pain weird?" She squeezed it again, and I flinched. "See?"
"Because you just did that." I stepped back and rolled my eyes. "You don't need me for anything. This was another trap."
Finally, she laughed and walked closer for a hug. "You're helping with dinner."
"Hm." I hugged her back. "I think you just miss me."
"I do. It's not a huge secret." She kissed my jaw. "Was that enough sleep for you?"
I nodded, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "Let me know if you feel strange?"
"Even if I don't," she whispered and looked at Rui playing with Benji. "He will."
Come to think of it, Rui had been keeping us intact this whole time. And it blew my mind how a child could be that intuitive. His spark of innocent joy and affection was exactly what we needed to look past the tragedy. Past our anxieties. Past the terrifying what-ifs and stay grounded in the present where the truth was simple: we survived. Barely unharmed. But fully capable of moving forward with the same innocent hope that a new sunny day brought. Rui was our constant reminder of why we fought so hard for this life we now had. And why we still were.