Alex's POV
After the funeral, I took Liz home with me.
She walked beside me in silence, small and fragile, as if a single word would shatter her. The sadness on her face was unmistakable—like she was holding back tears with every breath.
When we reached my house, she didn't step inside. She stopped at the doorway, staring at it like it was something unfamiliar, something she wasn't sure she was allowed to touch.
I took her hands gently and tried to smile.
"Welcome to your new home," I told her.
My place wasn't much—just two rooms. My bedroom, and another room I'd always used as storage and a makeshift living space. There was a bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen, the one spot I proudly maintained because I loved to cook. I'd been living alone since I was eighteen, preparing my own meals every day. If there was one thing I could confidently claim to be good at, it was cooking.
I gave her a quick tour. When we reached the storage room, I said, "This will be your room. How about we get it ready together tomorrow?"
But tonight, she would stay in my room.
She didn't respond—just nodded quietly.
The next morning, I woke up early, called my boss, and asked for a week off. Then I prepared breakfast and gently woke Liz. I tried to talk to her, to learn something about her, anything—but she stayed silent.
After we ate, we went to a furniture store and picked out a bed, a desk, a wardrobe—everything she would need. While we were browsing, my phone rang.
It was Jessica, an old friend from my academy training days.
"Hi Jess," I said.
"What are you doing, Alex? I heard you took a vacation. And what about the case you were working on?"
"Yeah, I had to take care of some things," I answered.
"Can I come by this evening if you're free?"
"Sure."
When we finished shopping, I asked Liz if she was hungry. She shook her head, even though she had barely eaten that morning. She was too shy to admit her hunger.
"Well, I'm starving," I said exaggeratedly.
Only then did she give me a tiny nod.
After lunch, we went back to the apartment and started preparing her room.
By evening, the doorbell rang—Jessica.
I opened the door, and she immediately hugged me.
"I heard what happened to your sister—from the boss. I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," I murmured. "Please come in."
As soon as she saw Liz, she froze dramatically and covered her mouth.
"And who is this little girl? …OMG Don't tell me—this is your daughter?"
Liz hid behind me instantly, gripping the edge of my jacket. I gently patted her head.
"This is my niece," I said with a small smile. "Her name is Liz. Liz, this is my friend Jessica. Say hi?"
Liz didn't say a word.
Jessica crouched down to her level.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Jessica—but you can call me Jess."
Liz simply nodded, then quietly slipped back into her room.
Jessica turned to me, her eyebrows raised.
"I didn't know you had a niece."
I let out a sad smile. "I was always so busy with work… I barely visited them. Eventually, I just… drifted away. And then the news came."
She hugged me again.
"Everything will be alright."
"My sister left her with me," I said quietly. "But I don't know if I can do this. She doesn't even talk to me."
"She just lost her parents, Alex," Jessica said gently. "She needs time—time to adjust to her new life and new people. Your sister trusted you. She knew you'd take good care of her."
" You're really a lifesaver," I told her. "Thank you… for always being here."
Jessica looked away shyly.
"I'll always be by your side. Call me anytime you need help."
"Thank you again. Would you like to stay for dinner? I'll cook. And maybe you can talk to her—maybe she'll open up to you."
"Oh, absolutely," she laughed. "Your cooking is the best."
And just like that, a week passed.
Liz slowly began to settle into her new life. She started talking to me—first in short sentences, then in longer ones. Her smile appeared more often. I even enrolled her in school, and she was so excited she couldn't sleep the night before.
Time started to move quickly.
Two years passed…