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The Ferris wheel's lights glowing like a constellation in the heart of the amusement park. From high above the ground, the world seemed quieter.

Inside one of the larger, enclosed gondolas of the Ferris wheel, Felix leaned slightly toward the curved window, his arm resting casually on the seat's railing. Next to him sat Nathan, his little hands smudging the glass as he eagerly pointed out the rides below.

On the opposite side of the gondola, Katherine sat with Maya snuggled close to her side, her arm draped protectively around her daughter. Their shopping bags—overflowing with plush toys, T-shirts, light-up wands, and souvenir cups—lined the floor at their feet, shifting gently every time the gondola rocked slightly in the breeze.

"You really didn't have to buy all that," Katherine murmured with a helpless smile as she looked at the loot around them.

Felix turned his head just enough to flash a small, unrepentant grin. "Didn't I?"