213. The Father They Already ChoseRoman

The first thing Roman notices is the sound. Laughter. Not loud. Not chaotic. But bright and alive.

It carries through the open spaces of the house like something sacred, unfiltered, unguarded, untouched by the kind of weight he has been carrying for days.

For a moment, he just listens and stares. Children. Not voices in recordings. Not imagined through Nova’s words.

Real.

Here and then, he exhales slowly and turns.

The three little ones are in their ...