Sisters Katelyn and Cassandra had already buried their mother... and 11 years later, a double tragedy entered their lives at the same time, something that had only been a matter of time... moments like these make you remember again and again just how fragile human life really is.

Summer, Which Began Perfectly...

It was one of those mornings you later remember with a smile... seemingly nothing special, yet filled with a quiet sense of warmth. It was 2012, the beginning of summer, that time when it feels like only lightness and freedom lie ahead. Devorah woke up before everyone else and lay still for a few seconds, stretching sweetly. Upstairs — silence...

Her daughters, Katelyn and Cassandra, were still asleep. Vacation. Finally, no alarm clocks, no rushing out of bed... She smiled, got up, and went to the kitchen, not even suspecting that this morning would become one of the last truly calm ones in their lives.

Coffee And Big Plans

Her husband, Christopher, was already in the kitchen, sitting at the table with his laptop and a mug of coffee.
— Looking for tickets again first thing in the morning? — Devorah smirked, cracking eggs into the frying pan.
— When else? The girls are sleeping, no one is yelling or demanding cereal. The perfect time for important decisions.

— Important? It’s just a vacation.
— Exactly. A vacation is serious business. Look, here’s the ocean, and here are the mountains. Where haven’t we been yet?
Devorah placed the plates on the table and sat across from him.

Pleasant Little Worries

— I want somewhere warm. Somewhere you can just lie down and think about nothing.
— You never know how to think about nothing, — he laughed. — Even on the beach, you plan the next year.

Devorah rolled her eyes but the smile never left her face. She felt so happy — soon they would be going on vacation as a family. Back then, she had no idea that life had very different plans for them...

Childhood And A Whole Summer Ahead...

Footsteps sounded upstairs.
— They’re awake, — Devorah said, as if it were the most anticipated moment of the day.
A minute later, Katelyn and Cassandra appeared in the kitchen - in pajamas, with messy hair and sleepy faces.

— We can sleep until noon! — Cassie happily announced.
— We actually already got up, — Cassandra added importantly. — That means the day has officially started.
— Good morning, adults, — Christopher said. — We’re having a family meeting. Where are we going on vacation?

Arguments And Laughter

— To the ocean! — Cassie shouted immediately.
— No, to the horses! I want to ride every day, — Cassandra objected.
— And I want ice cream, — Cassie said honestly.
— That’s a decisive argument, — Devorah laughed. — Ice cream must be part of any option.

— Can we go somewhere that has everything? — Christopher asked. — The ocean, horses, and ice cream.
— That doesn’t exist, — Cassandra declared confidently.
— You’ll grow up and realize adults are always looking for exactly those places.

Happy Moments That Seemed Ordinary Back Then

Someone spilled juice, someone argued over the last pancake. Devorah automatically wiped the table and suddenly caught herself thinking how nice it was that no one was in a hurry today. She looked at Christopher — laughing at something Cassie said. She looked at the girls — loud, alive, happy!

— We should have mornings like this more often, — she said quietly.
— We already do, — he replied. — We just don’t always notice them.
Back then, those words carried no weight at all... but now no one would ever be able to gather like this again, because after the tragedy, almost no one in this family would remain alive...

They Didn’t Know Yet That There Would Be No Trip...

But that morning, no one felt anxious. No one knew that very soon, conversations about vacations would become meaningless, and plans would be replaced by doctors’ offices and waiting for news that makes your heart stop... 

Laughter still filled the room, the future looked obvious, and no one at that table even suspected that this morning was merely a pause before everything changed forever…And then suddenly Devorah said something that made everyone light up with excitement!

An Idea That Seemed Simply Perfect!

— I have an idea, — Devorah suddenly said, setting her cup aside and looking at everyone with that look that usually meant spontaneous decisions.
— I’m already scared, — Christopher smirked.
— Let’s go pick out outfits for the vacation. And along the way, we’ll decide where we’re going. If we like the swimsuits - that means we’re definitely going to the ocean!

For a second, the kitchen fell silent, and then the girls almost shouted at the same time:
— Yesss!
— That’s the best plan ever!
Christopher shook his head but he was smiling.
— Alright, I’m outnumbered. Let’s go.

A Road Full Of Laughter And Unexpected Moments...

Their favorite songs were playing in the car — the ones they always sang along to as a family. Katelyn sang the loudest, Cassandra corrected the lyrics, Devorah laughed and clapped her hands.

— Do you even know what this song is about? — Christopher asked.
— It doesn’t matter! It’s fun! — the girls replied in unison.
And then everything happened too fast. The car in front of them slammed on the brakes...

Just What We Needed!

Christopher cursed and sharply turned the steering wheel — just a few centimeters, and everything could have ended very differently.
— Are you out of your mind?! — he shouted, hitting the steering wheel.
— Chris, it’s okay, — Devorah said immediately, placing her hand on his shoulder. — We’re alive. Everything’s fine.

He took a deep breath and nodded.
— Sorry… I just…
— That’s it, forget it, — she said softly. — Today is a good day. But in reality, it was as if fate had briefly sent them a warning — that not everything was actually fine. And yet, no one wanted to read that sign...

Shopping Time

However, after a couple of minutes, the tension dissolved. The girls started chatting about the ocean again, Devorah discussed hotels, Christopher joked that he needed a vacation more than anyone else. The mood returned, as if nothing had happened. No one believed in signs, especially on such happy days...

At the mall, they split up between stores. Bright swimsuits were found for the girls almost immediately.
— Look! — Cassie twirled in front of the mirror. — I look like a mermaid!
— And I look like a surfer, — Cassandra said seriously.
— That’s it, — Christopher summed up. — It’s decided. We’re going to the ocean.
— I told you so, — Devorah smiled but suddenly felt a strange wave of exhaustion. She blamed it on the early morning and all the emotions...

The Fitting Room That Changed Everything

— I’ll go look for something for myself, — Devorah said. — You guys keep choosing.
She took a few swimsuits and closed herself inside the fitting room. She took off her blouse, looked at herself in the mirror, and absentmindedly ran her hand over her chest. And suddenly she froze...

— What the… — she whispered.
Under her fingers was a strange lump. It didn’t hurt. But it was clearly not how it should be.

A Moment Of Fear

Her heart started pounding, her breathing went shallow...
— It’s nothing… probably, — she said out loud, as if the mirror could calm her down.
She put on the swimsuit, then immediately took it off, touched the spot again. Panic came in waves...

— No. No, no, no… — Devorah whispered, closing her eyes. Something was definitely wrong here... what was this strange lump... this was the last thing she needed...

A Worry She Didn’t Want To Talk About

She walked out of the fitting room with a forced smile.
— So, how is it? — Christopher asked.
— Fine, — she answered too quickly.
He narrowed his eyes.
— You’re acting strange. Everything okay?

— Just a headache, — Devorah said, looking away.  Probably my blood pressure.
— Maybe we should go home?
— No, — she said sharply, then immediately softened. — It’s fine. Really.
Christopher didn’t argue but deep down he felt that something was still wrong...

A Second Before Panic

Devorah walked through the mall, heard her daughters laughing, saw shop windows, people, lights — and felt as if she were behind glass. Just an hour ago, she had been planning a vacation. And now one thought was pounding in her head, sending a chill through her... what if it was a tumor... because that lump was definitely not normal... and she had skipped medical checkups for years, how she regretted that in that moment...

Still, she continued to pretend that everything was the same as before. But somewhere deep inside, she already felt it: this day, which had started so lightly, had just quietly turned in a completely different direction…

An Evening That Was No Longer Pleasant...

When they returned home, the shopping bags were left in the hallway, the girls immediately ran to their room — showing off their swimsuits to each other and making plans about the ocean.
Devorah took off her shoes, rubbed her forehead, and quietly said:
— I think I’ll lie down… My head is hurting even more. I’ll take a pill and rest for a bit.

— Are you sure everything’s okay? — Christopher asked cautiously. — You’ve been kind of… not yourself today.
— Everything’s fine, really, — she replied too quickly and was already heading to the bedroom. — I’m just tired.
She closed the door behind her, already planning her next step...

The Call She Didn’t Want Anyone To Hear

Alone, Devorah sat down on the edge of the bed. The pill remained untouched on the nightstand, because her head didn’t actually hurt at all... She took out her phone, stared at the screen for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and dialed the clinic.

— Good evening… yes, I’d like to make an appointment with a doctor, — her voice betrayed her and trembled.
She stood up and began pacing the room, trying to speak more quietly.

Everything Seemed To Be Against Her

— Yes, as soon as possible… No, tomorrow? Tomorrow is impossible?
A pause. Devorah squeezed the phone so tightly her fingers turned white.
— Okay… the day after tomorrow. Yes, please schedule it.

She closed her eyes. Everything inside her was screaming: let this just be a stupid panic, just nothing at all.
— Thank you… — she whispered and ended the call, convinced no one had heard her.

Tea In His Hands And Silence Behind The Door

At that moment, Christopher was bringing his wife some tea... He quietly approached the bedroom, gently opened the door… and froze.
He heard the last words of the conversation. He heard that tone — tense, frightened, nothing like her usual confident voice.
— Devorah?.. — he said carefully, taking a step forward.

She turned around sharply, as if she had been caught doing something forbidden.
— You… how long have you been here?
— Long enough, — he replied quietly, setting the cup on the nightstand. — What doctor were you making an appointment with?
She tried to smile but the smile didn’t work.

Failed Attempts To Reassure Her Husband

— Chris, it’s nothing serious. Really. I just… want to get checked.
He looked at her silently, too attentively.
— You never call doctors “just to check,” — he finally said. — What happened?
Devorah lowered her gaze.

— I don’t want to scare you before we know anything… — she whispered. — I’m scared myself.
A heavy silence filled the room... Somewhere deeper in the house, Katelyn and Cassandra were laughing, unaware that this evening had become the first step toward something that would change their family forever.

The Words That Were Hardest To Say

Devorah sat on the edge of the bed, clenching her fingers so tightly that her nails dug into her skin. She opened her mouth, closed it, tried again — and every time the words got stuck somewhere in her throat.
— I… — she exhaled and fell silent.
Christopher didn’t rush her. He simply sat down beside her and placed a hand on her back.
— It’s okay. You can tell me anything, — he said quietly.

And in that moment, Devorah broke… The tears came suddenly, as if she had been holding them in all day — and could no longer keep them inside.
— I didn’t want to… — she sobbed. — I didn’t want to scare you…
— Shhh… — he pulled her into his arms. — Tell me. I’m here.
She wiped her tears with her palm, took a deep breath, and finally forced the words out:
— Today, in the fitting room… I felt a lump. In my breast. I… I don’t know what it is… I think it’s definitely cancer…

Words Of Support That Kept Her Afloat

Christopher didn’t pull away for a second. He didn’t turn pale, didn’t jump up, didn’t start pacing the room — on the contrary, his voice became surprisingly calm.
— Devee, — he said gently. — It could be anything. A cyst. A lump. That doesn’t automatically mean something terrible!
She looked up at him through tears.
— But what if…

— No, — he shook his head immediately. — Let’s not jump to the worst conclusions. We’ll go to the doctor and figure it out.
He cupped her face in his hands.
— You’re not alone. Do you hear me?
She nodded, and in that moment she was holding on only to his confidence.

The Doctor’s Visit They Didn’t Want To Delay

Two days later, they were sitting in the clinic hallway. White walls, the smell of antiseptic, and silence…
— I’ll wait here, — Christopher said, squeezing her hand. — I’m right here.
— Okay, — Devorah replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

The door closed, and she was left alone with the doctor and her own thoughts. The doctor was polite, attentive, and far too serious. He examined her in silence longer than she would have liked…

A Doctor Who Chose His Words Too Carefully

— Tell me honestly, — Devorah finally couldn’t take it anymore. — Is this something bad?
He looked up at her and slowed his speech, as if every word could hurt.
— I can’t say for sure, — he began carefully. — But I don’t like the nature of this lump.
Devorah’s breath caught.

— What does that mean?
— It means we can’t waste time. We need to do a biopsy. As soon as possible.
— Right now? — she whispered.
— Yes. That’s the right step.
Her head started spinning with anxiety…

The Biopsy And The Hope She Clung To With All Her Strength

When she stepped back into the hallway, Christopher stood up immediately.
— Well? — he asked.
— A biopsy, — Devorah said shortly. — Urgently.
He nodded, hugged her, and said nothing — as if words were unnecessary.
The procedure passed like a blur. Devorah lay there, staring at the ceiling, stubbornly repeating to herself: it’s just a check… just a check…

Waiting for the results was the worst part… Every day began with an attempt to act normal — making breakfast, smiling at the girls, talking about little things.
But at night Devorah lay awake, listening to Christopher’s breathing and afraid to close her eyes.
— Everything will be okay, — he whispered, feeling her tense up. She nodded, even when she didn’t believe it.

The Envelope With The Answers…

When they returned to the doctor, Devorah felt nauseous with anxiety. Her palms were icy cold, her heart pounding so hard it felt like everyone could hear it. She sat down and stared at the desk where the folder with the results lay.

The doctor hesitated before opening it... In that moment, Devorah understood: words were about to be spoken after which their life would never be the same…

Words That Are Impossible To Hear Calmly

The doctor closed the folder and held Devorah’s gaze for a second, as if giving her one last breath before saying it…
— I’ve reviewed the biopsy results, — she began slowly…
Devorah gripped the edge of the chair.
— Say it, — she said quietly.
— The tumor is malignant.

The words hung in the air, as if the room suddenly became too small. Devorah didn’t understand them right away — it felt like the doctor was speaking another language.
— So… — her voice trembled. — That means…
— Yes, — she nodded gently. — It’s oncology.

Support She Held On To

The doctor immediately leaned forward, not allowing panic to take over.
— But listen to me very carefully, — she said firmly. — We didn’t catch this at the very last stage. We have a plan. And we need to act immediately.
— What… what happens next? — Devorah exhaled.

— Chemotherapy. As soon as possible! Then surgery... It’s a hard road but you’re not alone, and we have real chances! She nodded automatically, feeling everything inside go numb…

A Husband’s Look That Said Everything

When they stepped into the hallway, Christopher knew immediately — from her face, her walk, the way she avoided his eyes.
— Devee? — he asked carefully.
She simply stepped toward him and buried her face in his chest.
— She said it’s cancer, — she whispered.

Christopher held her tightly, as if trying to shield her from the entire world.
— We’ll get through this, — he said firmly. — Do you hear me? We’ll get through this!

Tears In Her Children’s Arms

At home, everything looked the same as always. Katelyn and Cassandra were arguing over a cartoon, laughing, calling their mom to come watch.
Devorah sat between them on the bed and hugged them both at once.
— Mom, why do you look so sad? — Cassandra asked.
— I’m just tired, — Devorah smiled, feeling tears rise to her eyes.
She held her daughters tighter and allowed herself to cry quietly, so they wouldn’t see. 

The girls didn’t understand why their mother suddenly wouldn’t let them go. Back then, none of them yet knew that eleven years later, fate would cruelly remind them of itself — and both daughters would have to face their own trials…

The Decision to Be Strong

Late in the evening, Devorah stood in the bathroom in front of the mirror. She looked at her reflection for a long time, carefully.
— I will get through this, — she quietly said to herself. — I have to.
For herself, for Christopher, for the girls!
She believed — truly, stubbornly — that this could be defeated.

Chemotherapy began quickly... Offices, cold chairs, the smell of medicine...
Christopher sat beside her every time, holding her hand.
— It’s temporary, — he kept repeating. — All of this is temporary.
She nodded, even when her strength was leaving her, even when she was scared.

Step by Step Toward Surgery

After the course, the doctor looked at the results again.
— We are moving forward, — he said. — Now surgery.
Devorah closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath.
She was afraid but she did not step back.
She did not yet know how many trials lay ahead… but in that moment she believed that the worst was already behind her. The day of the operation came too quickly... When Devorah was being wheeled on a gurney, Christopher walked beside her, not letting go of her hand.

— I will be here, — he quietly said, leaning toward her. — I’m not going anywhere.
— Take care of the girls, — Devorah whispered. — And tell them that I’ll be back soon.
The operating room doors closed, and time seemed to stop. Christopher sat in the corridor, staring at the floor, gripping his phone so tightly that his fingers turned white. Every passing doctor made him rise from his seat. When the surgeon finally came out and tiredly removed his mask, he said that the operation had been technically successful, now all that remained was to wait...

Days Filled With Hope

The first weeks after the operation were filled with cautious, fragile hope. Devorah tried to smile, got out of bed, sometimes even joked.
— See? — she said to her husband. — I told you everything would be fine.
— I always believed in you, — he answered, kissing her on the forehead, trying not to think about how much weight she had lost. 

The girls brought their mom drawings, sat beside her, told school silly stories.
— When you get better, will we finally go to the sea? — Katelyn once asked.
— Of course, — Devorah answered confidently. — I promise. And in that moment she herself believed it...

Everything Was Supposed to Be Different...

But gradually everything began to change... The test results stopped pleasing the doctors, Devorah grew tired faster and faster, and her smile appeared more and more rarely. One day the doctor took Christopher aside and quietly said that the illness had turned out to be more aggressive than they had expected, and they were doing everything possible but the forecasts were becoming more and more complicated. 

He did not say the terrible words but Christopher understood everything. From then on, at night he sat by his wife’s bed when she was asleep, and simply held her hand, afraid to let go.
— Just don’t leave, — he whispered. — Please...

The Last Conversations

One evening Devorah asked him to stay alone with her. She spoke slowly, with pauses but her gaze was surprisingly clear.
— Chris… if suddenly… if something goes wrong…
— No, — he interrupted sharply. — Don’t even start.
— Listen to me, — she said gently. — Promise that the girls will feel loved. That you will tell them about me.

Tears streamed down his face, and he didn’t even try to wipe them away.
— I don’t know how to live without you, — he whispered.
— You are stronger than you think, — Devorah replied, and weakly squeezed his hand.

A Home That Became Quiet Forever...

Devorah was gone early in the morning... Christopher held her hand until the very end... The house after that became different — too big, too empty. Cassandra didn’t go into her mother’s room for a long time and one day quietly said that it still smelled like her. Katelyn cried under her blanket at night and asked if maybe Mom was just late from work. 

Christopher learned to live again, to make breakfasts, to braid hair, to smile when everything inside was falling apart. Every day he saw Devorah in his daughters — in their gestures, looks, intonations... They missed their mom desperately, her voice, her hugs, her habit of kissing them before bed. And not a single day was ever the same as before. But back then, none of them yet knew that the pain that came into their home was not the last…

Eleven Years That Flew By Unnoticed

Eleven years passed so quickly, as if someone had flipped through the pages of life far too hastily. Christopher learned to be everything at once — both father and mother, support and strength. He worked tirelessly, came home late but always found the energy to listen, to hug, to ask how the day had been. 

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He did everything so that the pain of loss would not break the girls, so that their childhood and youth would be filled with warmth, not emptiness. And he succeeded. Katelyn and Cassandra grew up incredibly close, almost inseparable, shared everything with each other and always said that they had each other — and that was their strength! However, not everything depends on people, sometimes the unpredictable comes into their lives...

When Fear Returned to Their Home...

The girls were already studying at university, making plans, talking about the future, when grief quietly and almost imperceptibly entered their lives again. At first, it touched Cassandra. She complained about pain in her knee, brushed it off, said it was because of stress, because of studying, because of constant rushing.

— I’ll go to the doctor later, — she kept repeating. — It’s nothing serious.
Katelyn frowned.
— You’ve been saying that for a month already.
— Just fatigue, — Cassandra smiled, although her smile grew weaker each time.

The Diagnosis No One Wanted to Hear

When the pain became unbearable, the visit to the doctor could no longer be postponed. Tests, scans, additional examinations dragged on painfully long. Christopher sat in the corridor, clenching his hands, and at some point caught himself thinking that he already knew this hospital smell far too well.
The doctor spoke calmly but too seriously.
— You have osteosarcoma, — he said. — It is a malignant bone tumor.
Cassandra turned pale.

— So… it’s cancer?
— Yes, — the doctor nodded. — The tumor was first detected in the knee but by the time of diagnosis it had already spread to the femur and tibia. We need to act urgently.
Christopher closed his eyes for a second, as if the blow had landed straight in his chest. History was repeating itself too cruelly... now with his daughter... and at that moment he still did not know that this was only the beginning...

Decisions Made Without Delay

The medical team did not waste time. Everything happened rapidly — consultations, discussions, treatment plans.
— We must stop the progression of the disease, — one of the doctors said. — There are no other options. Cassandra looked at her father and sister, trying to be strong.

— I’ll manage, — she said quietly. — We’ve already been through this.
Katelyn squeezed her hand.
— You’re not alone. I’m here. At that moment, Katelyn could not even imagine that soon support would be needed for her as well...

The Surgery That Changed Everything

The surgery was complex and long. The affected bones had to be removed. The knee joint, femur, and tibia were replaced with metal prostheses. The hours dragged on endlessly. Christopher sat outside the operating room, not taking his eyes off the display, and in his head he heard Devorah’s voice again, as if she were still nearby.

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When the surgeon finally came out, wearily removing his mask, he said:
— We did everything we could. The operation was successful. Now a long road of recovery begins.
Christopher nodded, unable to utter a single word...

Pain One Had to Learn to Live With

Waking up after surgery, Cassandra at first could not feel her legs. Then the pain came — sharp, burning, exhausting.
— Dad… — she whispered.
— I’m here, — he answered immediately, bending over her. — It’s over. You’re alive! Katelyn stood nearby, trying not to cry.

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— We’ll get through this, hear me? — she said, even though her voice trembled.
Cassandra closed her eyes, clinging to their voices. She still did not know how much strength it would take to accept her new body, a new reality… and the fact that fate seemed to have chosen their family for trials once again.

When Fate Strikes Twice...

It was impossible to believe but literally a couple of months after Cassandra’s surgery, her younger, eighteen-year-old sister Katelyn also began to feel unwell... At first — strange pains, weakness, fatigue, which she attributed to stress and sleepless nights spent in the hospital next to her sister.

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— It’s just nerves, Dad, — Katelyn tried to smile. — I’m worried about Cass all the time.
But Christopher already knew this fear too well... He insisted on examinations, and what happened next literally left everyone speechless, even the doctors...

The Diagnosis That Shattered the Last Hopes

The examination results sounded like a verdict.
— It’s also osteosarcoma, — the doctor said quietly.
— Again?.. — Christopher blurted out.
Unlike Cassandra’s case, Katelyn’s tumor was located in the pelvis, coccyx, and lower spine. This made her condition much more severe.

— The location is complex, — the doctor explained. — The tumor affects critically important structures. The treatment will be long. And very difficult.
Cassandra, sitting nearby, squeezed her sister’s hand.
— We’ll get through this, — she said almost in a whisper. — Together.

A Road That Seemed Endless

Katelyn began her forty-week course of chemotherapy in August 2023. Drips, endless tests, pain, nausea, hair loss — all of this became her new reality.
— I hate this mirror, — she once said, turning away.
— You’re still the most beautiful, — Cassandra replied, struggling to hold back tears.

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The medical team scheduled a highly specialized surgery for October 31. The operation lasted forty hours! Forty hours of waiting, when every minute felt like an eternity... The complete removal of the sacrum and pelvic tumor became the only chance.

A Suspicion That Chilled the Blood

When it became clear that both sisters, just months apart, had been diagnosed with the same rare form of cancer, doctors could no longer attribute it to coincidence.
— This happens extremely rarely, — the geneticist said. — We must check the hereditary factor.

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The Harding family was referred to the genetics department... Even the doctors spoke about it with caution and were deeply worried about the girls, who had lost their mother so early and were now fighting for their lives as well...

A Short Happiness Amid Pain

For a while, it seemed that the worst was behind them... The sisters were slowly recovering. Cassandra began walking with a prosthesis, learning again how to move, to live, to smile. And she even got married!
— Mom would have liked this, — she said to Christopher on her wedding day. He smiled at her through tears…

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— She would have been proud of you.
The happiness was fragile but at that time they wanted to believe that fate had finally taken their side, however it was only a brief pause...

The Year That Took Everything...

The year 2025 became fatal for the family.... Katelyn was the first to pass away. The disease returned too quickly and proved stronger. Christopher held her hand just as he once held Devorah’s hand.

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— Dad, — she whispered. — everything will be okay…
A couple of months later, shortly after the wedding, Cassandra also passed away... The house was filled with silence again but now — final silence...

An Answer Impossible to Accept

The doctors nevertheless got to the bottom of it. Genetic tests showed that both Cassandra and Katelyn were carriers of a rare mutation in the TP53 gene. This gene is responsible for controlling cell division and protecting the body from tumors. 

When functioning properly, it suppresses the development of cancer. But the mutation disrupted this protection, greatly increasing the risk of oncological diseases. This explained everything… but did not ease the pain for a single second.

A Father Who Searches for the Strength to Live On

Christopher was left alone. Again... He searched within himself for the strength just to breathe, to get up in the mornings, to live on.
He got tattoos on his arms — his daughters’ names, their dates, small symbols meaningful only to him...

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— Now you are always with me, — he said once, looking at them.
And although the house was empty, their voices, laughter, footsteps… and a love that survived even such terrible trials remained in it forever.