I was only five when my world changed forever. Just the night before, life was full of warmth, laughter, and the comforting aroma of coffee wafting from our parents’ cozy café. But the next morning, everything felt different.
There were no goodbyes. Only the sudden, heartbreaking news that our parents had passed away. My sister Emma, then seven, held me close while our older brother Liam, just nine, stood in stunned silence.
In the weeks that followed, our family’s café and home were gone, sold to cover debts we never knew existed. We found ourselves in an unfamiliar place, uncertain and scared. I remember asking, night after night, “When will Mom and Dad come back?” The answers never came.
But Liam, even at such a young age, stepped into a role far beyond his years. He shared his food when we were hungry, stood up for us, and comforted us during the loneliest nights. Then one evening, he made us a promise: “Mom and Dad had a dream—to make the café something special. One day, we’ll bring it back.”
That promise carried us through many hard days.
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