"A Brother's Vow"

Ivan paced back and forth in his dorm room, his mind racing with thoughts of how to keep his family safe from the dangerous world he had been a part of. He knew he had to distance himself from them, to protect them from the dark path he had chosen.

After hours of planning, Ivan finally felt ready to face his family again. He took a quick shower, the hot water washing away some of the guilt and stress that weighed on his shoulders. He dried off and got dressed, then hailed a cab to take him home.

As the cab pulled up to his house, Ivan took a deep breath, steeling himself for the emotional reunion ahead. He rang the doorbell, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for someone to answer.

The door swung open and there stood his mother, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of him.

"Ivan? What are you doing here? I thought you were busy with work this weekend," she said, her voice filled with concern.