The wind howled through the empty streets, rain lashing against the cracked pavement. I pulled my tattered hoodie tighter around myself, but it did little to stop the biting cold that crept into my bones.
Nights like these were the worst—when the city itself seemed to turn against me, offering no shelter, no warmth, only the cruel reminder that I had no place to call home.
I had learned long ago that hope was a fragile thing, easily shattered. My parents had died when I was too young to understand what loss meant.
By the time I did, I had already been tossed from one foster home to another, each more indifferent than the last. Eventually, I stopped expecting anything. It was easier that way.
The storm grew fiercer, and I ducked into the nearest alleyway, seeking a momentary escape from the wind's relentless assault.
Above me, the towering form of an ancient oak tree swayed violently, its thick branches groaning under the pressure. I should have moved. I should have run.
But I didn't.
A deafening crack split the night, and before I could react, the world turned to darkness.
---
Everything was warm.
It was strange. I had never felt warmth like this before—safe, comforting, like being wrapped in the softest blanket. My body felt heavy, but not in the way exhaustion weighed me down in my previous life. This was different.
I tried to move, but my limbs were weak and uncoordinated. A tiny whimper escaped my lips, startling even myself. Panic rose within me as realization set in.
I was a baby.
The muffled voices around me were speaking in a language I didn't recognize, yet something in my new mind understood. A woman's gentle voice whispered words of comfort, and I felt myself being cradled against her chest. My mother?
I had no memories of my parents in my old life, only the vague knowledge that they had existed. But now, I had a mother—warmth, security, and love wrapped into one presence. I couldn't see her face clearly, but I could feel her heartbeat, steady and soothing.
This wasn't just a second chance at life; it was a completely new beginning.
As my tiny fingers curled instinctively, I made a silent vow.
This time, I would not be alone.
This time, I would find the home I had always longed for.