UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

Valle walked quickly down the street, his heart light and a grin on his face. He felt an unexpected rush of happiness, a sense of joy bubbling up inside him like a newly opened bottle of soda. He couldn’t quite figure out what had made him so cheerful, but he didn’t mind. Maybe it was because Alexa had been showing him more affection lately. She had been more attentive, making him feel wanted and cared for. Baby Rahilla, too, had started to giggle whenever Valle was nearby, reaching out her tiny hands as if she couldn’t wait to be held by him. Or perhaps it was the steady progress he was making toward his goal. Whatever the reason, Valle embraced the moment, enjoying the warmth of it all.

As he rounded a corner, Valle’s mood suddenly shifted. Two men stood in the middle of the path ahead of him. They were dressed in black from head to toe, their faces hidden in shadow. A sense of unease crept over Valle, and his excitement quickly faded, replaced by caution. He knew that men who appea