Night came, and Chris and I were in our room. Father was next door because the inn's rules only allowed two people per room. Chris was already fast asleep, but I found myself wide awake, staring at the ceiling. Something about this place made it hard for me to settle down and sleep. After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, I finally gave up and decided to get some fresh air. On my way out, a thought crossed my mind—I could ask Father for some money and buy some snacks. It was a small idea, but maybe a little midnight snack would help me feel more at ease.
I quietly made my way to Father's room and gently pushed the door open, careful not to wake him. To my surprise, the room was empty. The bed was neatly made, and there were no signs of him being here at all. Where could he have gone this late? Concern mixed with curiosity pushed me to head downstairs to ask the innkeeper if he had seen my father.