The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the small town as KASHI hurried home from the café, her heart still heavy with the weight of Amma’s diagnosis. The streets were quieter now, a stark contrast to her bustling thoughts. Each step felt heavier, as if the very air around her thickened with the impossibility of her situation. She longed for solace but found only uncertainty.

As she entered the orphanage, the familiar scent of home enveloped her, yet it did little to ease the turmoil inside. The laughter of the children echoed from the common room, a bittersweet reminder of the joy she wanted to cultivate in her life. She paused at the door, watching as they played, their innocent laughter piercing her heart. “What would they do without me?” she thought, swallowing hard as she contemplated the potential loss of Amma.