Chapter 7

I heard a faint creak as the door slowly opened, revealing a face weathered by the years, yet achingly familiar. It was Mom. I noticed a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes before it quickly got replaced by an expression of disbelief and joy, with her eyes brimming with tears. "Oh, my sweetheart…" Mom's voice was filled with emotion, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out to me. I immediately threw myself into Mom's embrace, and the tears that I had been holding back finally erupted—all the pent-up grievances and long-suppressed longing poured out in silent, heart-wrenching sobs. It turned out that Mom had me on her mind the whole time. It wasn't that she had abandoned me, after all. "I kept hearing the wolves howling every single night, and I would stay awake by your side all night, holding you in my arms and lulling you to sleep. I then woke up one morning and discovered that the front door was open and you were nowhere to be found." She then said that the area