When I first heard those words, a tidal wave of emotion surged through me, enveloping my mind and drowning any semblance of rational thought. The image of my mother's face materialized vividly in my mind—her warm smile radiant like a beacon of light and love, starkly contrasting against the frigid, calculated atmosphere that surrounded us. It was a face I had looked to for comfort and guidance, the embodiment of nurturing grace. Alongside that cherished vision emerged the sweet, innocent visage of a baby—perhaps my younger sibling—whose sheer vulnerability and need for protection stirred an unexpected ferocity within me. At that moment, a primal instinct ignited like a spark in tinder, compelling me to defend with every fiber of my being what was most dear to my heart.
Without a second th
