“RUN!” Emma screamed.
She grabbed the boy’s hand and pulled him into the crowd.
People shouted as they pushed through tables and pedestrians.
Behind them—
“STOP THEM!”
The men were coming.
Emma’s heart pounded violently.
“Who are they?” she asked while running.
The boy looked terrified.
“They’ve been following us.”
“Us?”
He looked up at her.
“Me and Mom.”
Emma stopped for half a second.
“Where is Sophia?!”
The boy suddenly began crying.
“She told me to run yesterday.”
His voice broke.
“She said if something happened… I had to find you.”
Emma felt ice run through her body.
“No… no…”
The boy reached into his pocket again.
He handed Emma a folded piece of paper.
With shaking hands she opened it.
It was Sophia’s handwriting.
Emma,
If you’re reading this, I ran out of time.
I wanted to protect him.
I wanted to protect you too.
Because the truth is…
Emma’s breathing stopped.
He’s not only my son.
He’s yours too.
Emma stared at the words.
The world around her disappeared.
Then—
a hand landed on her shoulder.
Slowly…
Emma turned around.
