The sun hung high in the sky, casting golden rays over the small village nestled among the mountains. Birds chirped cheerfully, filling the air with a sense of joy that was in stark contrast to the somber atmosphere inside the Hofferson home. Ingrid, the eldest sister, lay in her bed, her body weak from a lingering illness.

Outside, Astrid and Mathew were playing in the soft grass, laughter echoing through the trees. Juniper sat cross-legged behind Mathew, her nimble fingers skillfully braiding his hair. "Just like this, see?" she instructed, weaving strands together. Mathew giggled, his bright eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Can you make it look like yours?" he asked, glancing back at Juniper with a hopeful grin.

"Of course!" Juniper replied, her excitement infectious. She turned to Astrid, who was watching wide-eyed, captivated by the colorful ribbons that adorned Juniper's own braid. "You want to learn too, Astrid?"

"Yes! I want mine to look pretty like yours!" Astrid replied eagerly.

Meanwhile, inside the house, their mother sat by Ingrid's bedside, holding her frail hand gently. "Ingrid, my sweet girl," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You are so loved. You can rest now." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she spoke, knowing the end was near.

After a few moments, she stepped outside, wiping her eyes. The warmth of the sun seemed to intensify the cold dread in her heart. As she approached the children, the smile on her face faltered, replaced by a deep sadness that the older siblings immediately recognized.

Juniper stopped braiding Mathew's hair, her expression shifting from joy to concern. "Mama?" she asked, her voice soft.

Their mother took a deep breath, her face pale and drawn. "Ingrid… she's gone, my loves."

The words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Mathew and Astrid exchanged confused glances, their young minds unable to grasp the gravity of what was happening. The world around them felt unreal, as if time had suddenly slowed.

As the children stood frozen in place, their mother turned back toward the house, her heart breaking at the sight of her daughter's lifeless body being gently carried out. The villagers, with solemn expressions, moved carefully, showing respect for the girl who had once brought so much light into their lives.

Mathew and Astrid, still clutching each other's hands, watched in horror as the reality of their loss began to sink in. Their innocent laughter from moments before felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by an unbearable sadness.

Tears welled in Astrid's eyes, and she buried her face in Mathew's shoulder. "I don't understand," she sobbed, her small frame shaking with grief.

"I miss her," Mathew whispered, his voice cracking.

Juniper stood nearby, her own tears flowing freely. She rushed to her siblings, enveloping them in a protective embrace, trying to shield them from the heartbreak that threatened to consume them.

As Ingrid's body was taken away, the children felt the weight of the world crashing down upon them. They cried—not just for the sister they lost, but for the innocence that had slipped away with her. The joy of their playful day was replaced by an aching void, marking the beginning of a long journey through grief and healing.

In that moment, the Hofferson family became forever changed, bound together by love and loss, as they took their first steps into a world without Ingrid.