Alicia cradled her son Edduin, whispering, “Don’t worry, honey. Momma is here,” as he cried through another restless night. Humming a lullaby, she finally soothed him to sleep and carefully placed him in his crib. Exhausted, she stepped into the kitchen, clutching her coffee and wishing for her husband, John. His absence still felt unbearable.
A year ago, Alicia and John had planned a carefree life of travel before discovering she was pregnant. Their joy was short-lived when John tragically died in a car accident while Alicia was seven months pregnant. The shock sent her into early labor, but with the help of her neighbor, she delivered baby Edduin safely.
Now, Alicia balanced single motherhood and running John’s business, working from home to stay close to her son. But something unusual began happening—Edduin cried constantly, seeming tired and restless despite medical reassurance. Strange noises in his room at night deepened her concern.
One evening, Alicia discovered the source of the mystery—a small stray dog had snuck into the house through an old dog door. Feeling a connection, she adopted the dog, naming him Casper. The bond between Casper and Edduin brought joy and calm back into their home, healing a piece of Alicia’s heart.
