The man stood against the broken sunlight, his entire figure glowing faintly, as if the sun itself bent its light to touch him. His white hair, soft and bright like fallen snow, swayed gently in the breeze, brushing against his forehead with a lazy grace that somehow made him seem even more otherworldly.
Every movement of his seemed to stir the air around him, as though even the wind hesitated to disturb him. His tall, lean body fit so perfectly with his chiseled face that it hurt to look at him for too long. He looked detached, distant from the shattered world around them, like he did not belong to this place—or to any place at all.
Eli's heart squeezed painfully. He had longed to see his daddy again, but now that he stood there before him, fear curled around Eli's chest. His fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms. He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from crying.
