Chapter 23 My Lost Child

• [Patrick's POV]
• I never thought that life would bring me to this place, staring out into the sea with nothing but the sound of waves to keep me company. The ocean used to be our escape, our little piece of paradise where we could forget the troubles of the world and just be—father and son. But now, the water feels like a vast emptiness, a reminder of what I’ve lost. What we’ve lost.
• I remember the first time I brought Evan to this beach. He was barely five, his tiny hand wrapped tightly around my finger as he took his first steps into the cold surf. His eyes, the same deep blue as the water, lit up with wonder. He had that same look every time he saw something new, something beautiful. I lived for that look, for the way it made me feel like I was doing something right as a father.