A Day of Light

Victor surprised them Friday morning with an unexpected proposal:

“No work today. I’m inviting both of you to spend the day at Sol Park. You deserve a break after everything you’ve been through. There’s more to life than work and responsibilities. Stacy, wear something comfortable — we’re going on all the rides.”

Stacy let out a joyful squeal and threw herself into Victor’s arms without thinking. Sam smiled, though more reserved.

The day dawned sunny and warm. Stacy put on comfortable clothes that gently hugged her curves. Used to the photo sessions, she changed and asked Victor innocently, “Do I look okay?”

Victor replied with a smile: “Ready for action, darling. Let’s go.” To Sam, it felt like he was being left out.

LILA called through a vibration of the Chronos Sentinel. Sam pressed two fingers to his temple and her voice appeared:

“I detect some stress, Sam. Remember that Stacy’s new routine now involves wearing different outfits all the time during sessions. It’s just routine. Nothing to worry about.”

“It’s nothing, LILA,” Sam whispered. “Just a misunderstanding.”

Victor looked at Sam. “Are we all ready, kid? Let’s go then.”

Stacy was radiant. She laughed at everything, pointed at every ride, and pulled Sam and Victor’s hands alternately, like a little girl on her first trip.

“This is incredible!” she exclaimed every few minutes. “I’ve never seen anything like it!”

Victor was charming and generous. He paid for all the tickets, cotton candy, drinks, and photos. Always with that confident, paternal smile.

“Come on, kid,” he kept saying to Sam. “Don’t fall behind. Today is for having fun.”

Every “kid” felt like a small thorn to Sam. He wasn’t sure if it was just Victor’s way of speaking or if he really saw him as a child. Victor, on the other hand, treated Stacy with a different kind of familiarity: he placed his hand on her lower back to guide her through the crowd, whispered comments in her ear that made her laugh, and on several occasions Sam caught him staring at her cleavage or ass when she bent over to pick something up. When Victor noticed Sam watching, he simply winked at him as if nothing had happened.

Stacy was in her own world. Happy. Bright. Innocent.

On the tallest roller coaster, Stacy screamed with excitement and, without thinking, grabbed Victor’s hand tightly during the entire descent. Sam, sitting on the other side, saw it perfectly. When they got off, Stacy’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes were sparkling.

“That was the best thing in the world!” she said, laughing, still not fully letting go of Victor’s hand.

Sam **** a smile.

While waiting in line for another ride, the Chronos Sentinel vibrated. Once again, LILA’s voice sounded clearly inside his head:

“I detect emotional tension, Sam. Jealousy level 5.3. Insecurity level 6.8. It’s normal. Victor is a successful, mature, and self-assured man. Stacy sees him as your savior… and that bothers you. But isn’t it better this way? Look how happy your wife is. Would you rather see her sad and worried about the future?”

Sam clenched his teeth and replied mentally:

*“I know, but she’s my wife… and he’s overstepping. His behavior goes beyond just helping us.”*

Lila answered softly:

“Or maybe you’re the one exaggerating. Victor is just being kind. Don’t you think Stacy deserves a day of joy after losing everything? Relax, Sam. Enjoy the day. Or at least… pretend to enjoy it for her.”

During the afternoon, Victor won a giant stuffed animal at a shooting game and gave it to Stacy. She hugged it so tightly that Victor laughed and ruffled her hair affectionately, leaving his hand on the back of her neck a few seconds longer than necessary.

Sam saw everything.

That night, on the way back in Victor’s car, Stacy fell asleep in the back seat, hugging the stuffed animal. Victor drove relaxed.

“Your wife is special, kid,” he commented quietly. “She has a very rare light. People at the agency are already talking about her. Look, I know it’s hard for you to adapt — I can see it in your eyes — but you’re in good hands. I take care of you both. Don’t overthink everything. Soon you’ll save enough to buy a new little house back in the village once it’s rebuilt.”

Sam just nodded, staring out the window.

Inside his head, Lila whispered again:

“He’s proud of her, Sam. And you should be too. You’re in good hands. I’m with you, Sam. Even if one part of you is suffering, another part enjoys that fear and turns it into libido. Soon we’ll leave all this behind and it will become a distant memory. Soon you’ll go back to a quiet life with Stacy in the village. You just need to work hard, Sam. Cheer up.”

Sam squeezed his eyes shut.

The day had been wonderful. Stacy had never been happier.

And yet, for the first time, Sam clearly felt that something dark was moving beneath the surface of all that “kindness.”