Dave

The chilly morning caught you by surprise, waking you earlier than usual. The kitchen was unusually quiet—no footsteps, no smell of breakfast cooking. The house seemed empty and silent. In your parents' bedroom, you saw your mother asleep in bed, and your father sat next to her, leaning over her, his hand tightly clutched. Seeing you, he gently led you away, into another room.

Soon you found yourself outside, the piercing north wind whipping your hair. All your relatives had gathered around you, and you were standing by the coffin where your mother lay.

"Mom... You're sleeping, and they're dressing you... Wax candles..." you whispered, turning to your aunt. "Auntie, tell me... Why is dad crying?"

Receiving no answer, you approached your father. "Dad, tell me... Why is Mom sleeping? Dad, let's go... Play the piano... Let our Mom be with us forever!" you asked in a childish, slightly capricious voice.

"No, my baby..." the father answered, holding back his sobs . "Mama has closed her eyes forever. You will be an orphan forever..." These words were deeply imprinted in your memory.

Years passed. One day, you brought your girlfriend home to meet your father. He looked at her carefully and then quietly said to you, "She looks so much like your mother... Take care of her."