Home in Ruins : So Was The Life He Once Knew

**Flashback** to his birthday, before the incident that would change everything.

On a sunlit beach, Jaiden ran joyously, his laughter blending with the soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore. His brother, Andree, chased after him, their feet sinking into the warm sand, while their older brother watched from a large rock near the ocean. Their mother, father, and grandmother stood together, their faces glowing with happiness, eyes fixed on the scene with love and pride.

Jaiden’s mother called to him, her voice sweet and melodic.

"Jai², come to Mommy. Stop playing now, it's time to blow out your cake," she called out lovingly.

Still basking in the warmth of happiness, Jaiden smiled and ran toward her, with Andree following close behind, eager to join in the celebration.

Jaiden leapt into his mother’s lap, feeling the embrace of her love.

"Now, my dear, what will be your wish?" she asked, her voice full of tenderness. "What do you want for a present? Or is there a special place you’d like to visit? Just tell me, anything you wish for, and I’ll make it happen. You know Mommy loves you, right?"

Jaiden looked up at her, his eyes wide with innocence. "I know, I love you too, Mommy," he whispered. "But I don’t want anything. I already have everything I need. I just want my family to love me like this forever."

His mother smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "Of course, we will. We’ll always protect you, stay by your side. We want you to enjoy life, and we’ll take care of the rest."

Those were the last comforting words Jaiden would hear before fate took a cruel turn. The happy memories, once vivid and cherished, would soon be swallowed by the weight of the devastation that followed—a month later, on a day that marked the beginning of blame and misunderstandings.

**June 18, 2019—the day the incident happened.**

It began with Jaiden’s grandmother, who had fallen ill and was resting in her room. There was no need for a hospital visit, as the family doctor attended to her regularly.

Jaiden’s parents left for work, consumed by their busy lives. His mother told him she’d be back soon, as she had a meeting to attend. His father, preoccupied with his company, was equally distant, and his older brother, now a CEO, accompanied their father to learn the ways of business. Andree, too, was busy, working on a movie that had taken him far from home.

Jaiden was left alone with his grandmother, and though Christmas was nearing, the warmth of the season felt distant. The maid had been dismissed early, and with the house empty, it was just Jaiden and his grandmother.

Before leaving, Jaiden’s mother had reminded him, "Take care of Grandma while I’m gone. I’ll be back soon."

But that was the last time Jaiden would hear her loving words. The ones that followed would be filled with pain and cruelty.

Feeling hungry, Jaiden decided to cook for himself, wanting to recreate the dish his mother often made—his favorite meal.

After finishing, Jaiden placed the spoon down on the counter, lost in his thoughts. Satisfied with the meal, he walked out of the kitchen, completely unaware that the stove was still on. He headed to his room, hoping to relax and read a book, oblivious to the growing danger behind him.

In the kitchen, the pan continued to heat, and the fire slowly spread from the stove to the nearby counters. Flames began to lick the edges of the cabinets, quietly growing as they crept higher.

Upstairs, Jaiden’s grandmother stirred in her bed, sensing that something was wrong. The air felt warmer than usual. She slowly rose, her body frail from age, and made her way toward the door. When she opened it, the sight of the ceiling ablaze above her shocked her. The fire was spreading quickly, climbing up the walls.

She stepped back in fear, but before she could react, the chandelier above her fell, crashing down onto her foot. The weight of it caused her to cry out in agony as she stumbled, her foot trapped beneath the wreckage.

Jaiden, still unaware of the growing inferno, sat comfortably in his room, lost in his book. A faint crackling sound reached his ears, but he dismissed it. Then, a loud crash echoed from the hall, sending him into a panic. He rushed out of his room and toward the noise.

In the hallway, Jaiden saw the fire spreading rapidly. His grandmother, struggling with pain, was trying to free her foot from the fallen chandelier.

His heart pounded in his chest as he rushed to her side, trembling hands reaching for hers, tears streaming down his face.

"G-Grandma," he stammered, panic rising in his voice. He could hardly think straight, his mind spinning as the fire closed in and the house seemed ready to collapse. In the distance, he could hear the sound of gasoline—an unsettling reminder that the family's business storage was nearby.

His grandmother, barely holding on, spoke with great effort, her voice weak but full of love. "My dear, listen to Grandma, okay? You have to go. Don’t worry about me. I’m getting old… but your future is still ahead of you."

"No, no, Grandma! I won’t leave you. Please, come with me!" Jaiden cried, his voice breaking, tears streaming down like a waterfall.

"It’s too late, my dear. The house is going to collapse. Promise me you’ll go. Please. You must go." Her voice trembled as she struggled to stay conscious from the pain.

"Go! I said go!" His grandmother’s voice rose with all the strength she had left, her desperation clear. "Please, my dear, go!"

Jaiden’s heart shattered as he finally made the gut-wrenching decision to run. He stumbled outside, falling to his knees, overwhelmed by a grief so deep, it felt like the end of the world.

Behind him, the mansion, once a symbol of his family’s success, exploded—an inferno fueled by the family’s business storage. Parts of it crumbled, and the entire structure collapsed into rubble.

By the time the firefighters arrived, it was too late. His grandmother was gone.

Jaiden’s family rushed home as soon as they received the call, only to find their home in ruins. It was a nightmare made real, and it was too late to save anyone.

That day, everything changed. What began as a day filled with warmth and love had spiraled into the deepest despair. The mansion was gone, and with it, the life they once knew.

It was the beginning of a long, painful journey through blame, regret, and heartbreak—a nightmare that would haunt Jaiden forever.

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