The Day Our Promise Breaks

His eyes dove straight to the bottom right corner of the screen, zeroing in on the surveillance video timestamp. The date glaring back at him was the very day he and Charlie were supposed to meet. Even though he had bailed, Charlie had still gone to the amusement park on her own.

The video whizzed by, and soon Charlie appeared, taking off her backpack and crouching down. She unzipped it to reveal a sketchbook Charles recognized instantly. She must've brought it to show him, hoping he'd fulfill her dreams-hold her hand, hug her, kiss her, and let her ride the merry-go-round. Alongside the sketchbook, she had small snacks from kindergarten in her backpack that she'd saved just for him. She packed everything she could and was planning to gift them to her dad that day. After carefully checking everything, she packed it all back, zipped up the backpack, slung it over her shoulder, and resumed her wait.

The clock at the screen's bottom kept ticking. Noon slipped by in a flash. During that time, Charlie checked her smartwatch repeatedly, and several times, she swiped through to find her dad's contact. But she never made the call. You could almost catch her murmuring to herself, "Daddy promised me. He'll definitely come."

So she sat there, patiently waiting, sure he'd show up. Hours passed, and she touched her stomach again. It was the third time she did that she was hungry. She was so hungry she couldn't bear it anymore. Reluctantly, she pulled out a packet of cookies from her backpack, tore it open, ate half, and then tucked it back inside. She hugged the bag close and kept waiting.

Time marched on, yet her tiny

silhouette didn't budge. Even adults didn't show such patience, let alone a naturally restless child. She waited from morning till afternoon, and her face was void of irritation. Not once did she consider giving up. She clung to the promise she and Charles had. It seemed like she wouldn't stop until he was there.

As the hours dragged by, her little face grew paler, more ghostly. But did she give up? Charles' heart felt like it was being stabbed by a sharp dagger as an unbearable ache ripple through him. He never imagined Charlie would've gone to the park that day. He couldn't fathom that his promise would lead her to wait so naively.

Charles' eyes brimmed with sorrow. Unable to bear it any longer, he turned to Evelyn. He wanted to ask how long Charlie had waited that day. But instead, he was met with Evelyn's tear-streaked face. Although Evelyn had seen this before, it still hit her like a punch to the gut.

Charles saw Evelyn like this andnoveldrama

found himself speechless. His throat tightened as panic washed over him. His mind drifted back to three days after he broke his promise to Charlie when her he returned to Oakwood Manor. He had planned to make it up to her by taking her to the

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amusement park. But then Evelyn had said, "Charlie? Charlie's gone! Where do you think you're picking her up from? The afterlife?"

She had said Charlie was gone. She had told him again and again that Charlie was dead. Could it really

be true? Was Charlie already gone?