Sofia and her husband Rick took a much-needed ten-day vacation by the sea, finally allowing themselves to unwind. It was their first real break in years—no work, no responsibilities, no distractions. Just the two of them, breathing ocean air and rediscovering a calm long buried beneath daily life.

At 44, Sofia had been married to Rick for nearly twenty years. Together, they’d raised a spirited sixteen-year-old daughter, Emma. Their life was stable, often overwhelming, and built on routine.

Love, for them, didn’t mean grand gestures. It meant sharing dishwasher duty, managing bills, and figuring out dinner plans. They weren’t passionate lovers anymore, but steady partners in a life filled with responsibilities.

Rick, calm and meticulous, found joy in organizing spice racks and tending to plants. His presence grounded Sofia, even if their connection had become more practical than romantic. He was her constant in the whirlwind of parenting and adulthood.

This trip was meant to be restorative—a pause from the chaos. For ten days, they stepped outside their routine and simply breathed.

But something went wrong—something that shattered the fragile peace they’d just found.

The story begins here, at the edge of calm, just before everything changed.