fatherless

It was dark outside. Ali quietly slipped out of bed in his pajamas, with Luca following closely behind. They crept to the door, opening it slowly to avoid making noise. The door creaked.

Luca whispered,

"Slow down, Ali! You'll wake everyone up. We need to be quiet, like a cat... like me!"

Ali rolled his eyes at Luca's odd, exaggerated movements but didn't say anything as he left the room.

"Really, like a cat? Okay, but there's also sleeping like a cat, Luca!" he muttered.

They moved cautiously down the hallway toward the principal's office. Suddenly, the lights flickered on, and Bella's voice echoed through the hall. Ali and Luca quickly ducked behind a coat rack. Bella walked sleepily past them and headed toward the bathroom.

They both took a deep breath before continuing on their way. When they reached the principal's office, Ali whispered urgently to Luca,

"Luca, the key!"

Luca rolled his eyes.

"Ali, what's the key? Do I have the key?!"

Ali froze for a moment.

"Yes, yes! We need to hurry, give it to me!"

Luca, clearly frustrated, said,

"I don't have the key, Ali!"

Ali shook his head in realization.

"Oh, right! I forgot!" He reached into his pocket, pulled out the key, and held it up. "Here it is!"

They carefully unlocked the door and slipped inside. The lights flickered on. The room was filled with old furniture—an oak table at the center, piled high with papers, and books lined the walls.

Ali glanced at Luca, confused.

"Luca, how are we going to find the letters? There's so much paper and so many books!"

Luca scanned the room.

"I don't know, Ali. It's like we've stepped into a bookstore!"

Ali quickly spotted a drawer on the table, opened it, and his face lit up.

"Hey, Luca! I found them! The letters!"

Luca quickly hissed,

"Ali, be quiet! Someone will hear us!"

Ali covered his mouth and nodded, then carefully opened the top letter. He began to read aloud, his voice barely a whisper:

---

Content of the Letter:

Dear Ali,

You may not remember me when you read these lines, but I want you to know that I am here for you, and I will always be here.

If you want to know what happened to your family, go to your old house. In the corner of the living room, one of the wooden floorboards is different. Lift it. Beneath it, you will find a key. This key will lead you to the past.

Don't be afraid, Ali. The truth can be painful, but remaining in the dark is a heavier burden. You might think you've lost your family, but some secrets only reveal themselves to the brave.

Remember, I am watching over you.

Be safe,

A friend

---

A Small Note on the Back of the Letter:

"When you find the key, wait until midnight."

---

As Ali was reading, his heart raced with excitement. Suddenly, a noise from outside broke his concentration.

"The door to the sink!" he thought. He quickly turned to Luca and whispered,

"Luca, we have to go! Miss Bella is coming!"

Luca nodded quickly. They turned off the lights and ran out of the room, but just as they reached the hallway, they came face-to-face with Miss Bella.

"What are you doing here, Ali?" she asked, sleepily.

Ali tried to act casual.

"I was going to the sink, Miss Bella!"

Bella nodded, still half-asleep.

"Oh, okay. Don't forget to cover yourself in bed, Ali!" she said before walking away.

Ali let out a relieved sigh, quickly returning to his room. He lay down, the letter still fresh in his mind, as plans for tomorrow began forming in his head. Exhausted, he finally drifted off to sleep.