Through The Ashes II

"A Stone and Its Shadow: Part 2"

Mara sat in one of the worn chairs in Gallaway and Elara's office, her fingers tracing absent patterns along the edge of the wooden armrest. Sammy had just finished his routine check-up and was outside with Yosef. Jorn was shoring up some house stuff with Silas and Gareth.

Gallaway sat across from her, his usual stoic demeanor softened as he slid a thin folder across the desk. Elara stood nearby, her arms crossed but her expression warm, though tinged with a solemn seriousness.

"We wanted to speak with you privately about something," Gallaway began, his voice low.

Mara glanced between them, her brows furrowing. "Is something wrong with Sammy?"

Elara quickly shook her head, offering a reassuring smile. "No, no, Sammy's perfectly healthy. This isn't about him, at least not directly."

Gallaway gestured toward the folder. "We were assigned a task recently—finding a home for a child. And we think... they might be a good fit for you and Jorn."

Mara's heartbeat quickened as she stared at the folder. "A child?"

Elara nodded, stepping closer to the desk. "A boy. 7 years old."

Gallaway opened the folder, revealing one photograph clipped to the top of a small stack of papers. Mara leaned forward, her breath catching as she took in the image.

The boy, named Pedro, had a sharp jaw, a mop of black hair, and dark, thoughtful eyes.

"He's... beautiful," Mara whispered, her voice trembling.

Elara smiled faintly. "He's been through a lot, like most kids these days. But he's strong. Resilient. He came from scraps, like so many of us, but..." She hesitated, glancing at Gallaway.

"But there's something about him," Gallaway finished. "Something that makes us think he belongs here—with you."

Mara's hand hovered over the photo, her chest tightening as she studied him. It was more than his appearance, though that alone felt like a strange, cosmic connection. His dark eyes and long lashes reminded her of Jorn's—before Revenant—a mix of strength and vulnerability that made her heart ache.

"He looks..." Mara paused, struggling to find the right words.

"Like he could be Jorn's," Gallaway said gently.

Mara nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

Elara crouched beside her, resting a hand lightly on Mara's knee. "We know this is a lot to process, and we're not pressuring you. But we wanted you to have the first look because we believe in what you and Jorn have built here. You've given Sammy a home, a family. And we think you could do the same for him."

Mara finally tore her gaze away from the photo, her hands trembling slightly as she closed the folder. "I need to talk to Jorn," she said softly.

"Of course," Elara said, standing and stepping back.

Gallaway nodded. "Take your time. But don't take too long. He's waiting for someone, Mara. Someone who won't give up on him."

Mara swallowed hard and clutched the folder to her chest, her heart already full with the weight of the decision. As she left the clinic with Sammy and Yosef, and stepped into the sunlight, her thoughts raced.

The moment she saw his face, it felt like falling in love all over again. But this wasn't a choice she could make alone. She needed Jorn—her strength, her calm, her clarity.

And in her heart, she already knew. Once Jorn saw that picture, there would be no going back.

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