Chapter 4: Kairos’s longing for a family

In the orphanage, daily life followed a simple yet structured routine. The children would wake up early, their day beginning with chores and breakfast in the communal dining hall. Kairos, like the other orphans, would help with tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and tending to the vegetable garden that provided food for the orphanage.

After chores, the children would attend classes in basic subjects like reading, writing, and arithmetic, taught by the orphanage's caregivers. Kairos was a bright student, eager to learn despite the whispers and sidelong glances from his peers.

During free time, the children would play in the orphanage's courtyard, kicking a ball around or playing simple games. Kairos would often sit apart from the others, watching with a wistful expression as they laughed and played together.

Despite the care and kindness shown to him by the orphanage staff, Kairos couldn't help but long for something more. He longed for a family of his own, someone who would love him unconditionally and accept him for who he was, powers and all.

At night, after dinner, the children would gather in the common room for story time before bed. As the caregiver read aloud from a book, Kairos would imagine himself as the hero of the tales, embarking on grand adventures and overcoming impossible odds.

But as the lights dimmed and the other children drifted off to sleep, Kairos would lie awake, staring up at the ceiling and wondering if he would ever find the family he so desperately yearned for.