Daniel’s Return to the Fight

Daniel’s POV:

As the plane's engines hum steadily beneath us, the world outside the window seems detached, a distant blur of clouds and sky. Beside me, Lily's small form is hunched, her sobs muffled by the plush seat. She clutches a stuffed bear, a barrier between her and the terrifying reality we're flying into. "Daddy, is Mommy like Sammy's parents now? Did she go to heaven?" Her voice trembles, laden with a fear no child should know.

I tighten my grip on her hand, mustering a calm I'm far from feeling. "No, pumpkin, Mommy is very strong. She’s somewhere far away, and there are some very bad people keeping her from us. But remember, she’s a fighter. And I promise you, we’re going to bring her back home." The words are a vow, a lifeline I'm desperate to cling to myself.

Lily looks up, her eyes glistening with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "Can we go get her now? Please, Daddy, I miss Mommy so much." Her plea knifes through me, and I pull her into a hug, her small body trembling agai