Page 186 of Sinful Games

Standing there, with a bright smile and missing two front teeth, was a little boy—no older than three. He wore a white linen two-piece outfit, his blond hair glowing in the soft light, and his blue eyes sparkling with innocence.

"I wanted to draw on your cast while you were sleeping, Mamma, but the big guy said no," he pouted, crossing his tiny arms in frustration.

No.

It couldn’t be.

“L-Lukyan?” My voice trembled, barely more than a whisper.

He nodded eagerly, his smile widening as he climbed onto the edge of the bed.

A sob burst from me, raw and uncontrollable.

This was impossible, yet here he was—my son, my sweet baby Lukyan.

I reached out with my free arm, pulling him close, desperate to feel him, to hold him.

“I’ve missed you, Mama,” he whispered, his small hands clutching mine tightly.

I cradled his head, kissing him over and over, unable to stop. “Oh, my baby,” I choked out. “My poor baby, I’ve missed you so much, Lukyan. So,somuch.”

My heart felt like it was shattering and healing all at once.

It was too much, and yet not enough.

I held him tighter, my tears soaking his hair, as the world around us seemed to fade away.

Lukyan nestled into my embrace, his small body warm and familiar against mine. I never wanted to let him go. But then, he pulled back slightly, his blue eyes filled with a gentle sadness.

“Mama, I can’t stay long,” he said softly, his voice carrying a wisdom far beyond his years. “I have to go back to play.”

My heart clenched painfully at his words. “No, no, no! Please, baby, don’t go. Stay with me,” I whispered, my voice cracking.

He gave me a tender smile and pointed upward, his little finger tracing the ceiling. “But I see you from up here, Mama. I watch you every day.”

“From up there?” I asked, my voice trembling.

He nodded. “Yeah, and soon we’ll be together again. But for now, I have to go back.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want you to go, Lukyan. I need youherewith me.”

He reached out, brushing a tear from my cheek with his tiny hand. “I know, Mama. But you have to stay with Papa. He needs you. And no matter what, I’m always with you, even when you can’t see me.”

My chest tightened as I tried to memorize every detail ofhis face, every moment of this impossible encounter. “I love yousomuch, Lukyan,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“I love you too, Mama,” he replied, his voice soft and full of love. “But it’s time for me to go.” He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then slowly slipped out of my embrace. As he stepped back, his form began to blur, fading into the soft light.

“No, please…” I reached out, but he was already disappearing.

As Lukyan’s form began to fade, his small frame growing dimmer in the soft light, he looked back at me one last time. His blue eyes, still so full of love, held a profound sadness.

“Tell Papa I love him too,” he said softly, his voice trembling. “He misses me just as much as I miss him. He needs to know.”

“I will, baby,” I managed to whisper.

With one final, fleeting smile, Lukyan disappeared into the light, leaving me alone in the shadowy room. The emptiness he left behind hit me so hard that all I could do was shut my eyes and let the darkness take over once more.

Chapter

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