51

TWENTY ONE

**Flashback...**

Talia sat beside her mother, her head bleeding, tears streaming down her face. Thick smoke billowed from the car’s hood, and blood stained every corner of the vehicle.

“Ta...Talia,” her mother’s voice was weak, barely a whisper. “Please, take care of yourself.” Blood gushed from her mouth, her life slipping away.

“No, Mom... please stop talking. I’ll call for help... You can’t die!” Talia sobbed, holding her mother’s trembling hand, desperate to stop the inevitable.

“I love you,” her mother whispered, her hand slowly slipping from Talia’s grasp. In the next moment, she was gone.

“Mom! Mommy, no, please don’t leave me!” Talia screamed, shaking her mother’s lifeless body in denial.

Through her tears, she saw a blurry figure—a man appeared in front of her. He gently lifted her mother’s body out of the wreckage. Moments later, he returned, carrying Talia in his