The night our parents died, we lost more than just family—we lost everything. But in the darkest moments, we made a promise to each other that would require years of sacrifice and determination.
At five years old, my world crumbled in an instant. One moment, I had a family and a café filled with laughter; the next, I had nothing. The accident took our parents without a word. My siblings and I were sent to an orphanage, and the café and house were sold off to cover debts we didn’t understand.
“We’re all we have now,” Liam, my older brother, whispered. “I’ll take care of you. I promise.” And he did. He sacrificed for us, making sure Emma and I had what we needed, even when he had less.
Liam reminded us of our parents’ dream—one day, we would get the café back. I didn’t know how, but I believed him.
Years later, after being split up, we stuck together, determined to reunite. Liam worked tirelessly from sixteen, and by the time we turned eighteen, we pooled our money, rented an apartment, and started saving.
Finally, after eight years of hard work, we bought the café back. It wasn’t easy, but we restored it, honoring our parents’ dream. People came back, drawn by the warmth and love we put into every meal.
At thirty-four, we did something even crazier—we bought back the house, the one where our parents’ laughter once filled the halls. We unlocked the door together, overwhelmed with emotion, knowing they would have been proud.
Today, we have our own families, but every weekend, we gather at that house for dinner. And Liam, with pride in his eyes, raises a glass and reminds us of the promise we kept: “Only in unity can a family overcome any problem. And we have proven it.”