As the mother stood at the doorway, her heart raced with both curiosity and a growing sense of unease. She watched as her eldest son, with a demeanor that defied his young age, held his baby brother with such tenderness and care. The room was bathed in the soft, predawn light, casting a gentle glow on the two brothers wrapped in a silent bond.
“Son, why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice a mixture of concern and love.
The boy, still holding his brother, turned slowly to face his mother. His eyes, usually so full of childlike wonder, now held a depth and seriousness that caught her off guard. He paused, as if carefully choosing his next words, and then, in a soft whisper, he said, “I have to keep him safe, Mom.”
