Three years had passed since Sofia’s birth, Noelia was now twenty-five years old and was happily married to Maria. Noelia and Maria were about to be expeg another child. Then Maria gave birth to their third child which they named him ‘Julio’.

  Noelia’s mother Rosa resent during the delivery. As she held her new grandson with her arms, she was reminded of a man. He simirly resembled Julio but she couldn’t remember it clearly.

  Two months ter, the couple were now raising Julio. Enrique and Sofia got to see their new little brother. They ran to their parent’s room to see their younger brother on a crib with their mother o him. The two little children looked over the crib, they were curious to see him.

  “Woah!! He’s so small!” Enrique cried out. He then poked Julio’s cheek while giggling.

  “Don’t poke him too hard, Enrique,” said Maria.

  Julio started to cry and the couple hurried to calm him down. The two soon would find out that handling Julio was more difficult than they imagiheir third child was eid moved around a lot. Even Rosa who had years of experience was having hard times with Julio. Rosa ehat Julio was like his father but more active.

  Elena and Norris came to visit the bakery to see Julio. Elena called her little brother, she asked where Julio’s at. Noelia told her that he stairs with Maria.

  “Hello there, Maria! We came to visit,” said Elena.

  “Oh Elena, wele! Sorry about the mess here, Julio was really handful,” Maria replied.

  “It’s alright, I uand,” said Elena.

  “Look who’s the big boy here, you are!” said Elena again, ping Julio’s cheek. “May I hold him?”

  “Sure thing!” Maria replied, handing Julio to Elena.

  “He’s quite heavier than Ignacio,” said Elena.

  “Yeah, he drinks milk quite a lot,” Maria replied.

  “I see,” said Elena, putting down Julio.

  Norris crouched down to see Julio sitting. Julio looked at Norris with curiosity, he saw his goatee and pyed with it by pulling it multiple downs. Julio then pyed with Norris’s eyepatch, almost splitting it in half.

  “Hey!” said Norris. Nrabbed Julio and said, “This one’s feisty.”

  “Yeah and eic too, Noelia’s friends came yesterday and thought the same way,” Maria replied as Norris handed Julio to her.

  “How’s Ignacio anyway?” Maria asked Elena.

  “Sino one was going to be in the house for a while and I’m not going to hire a babysitter, Ignacio's in Manuel’s house possibly pying with Sazar,” Elena answered. “Anyways I guess I have to get going. Got some work to do, I’ll see you ter.”

  “Goodbye, sport. I hope you miss your unorris,” said Norris patting Julio’s head. “He has smooth hair right there.”

  Elena and Norris exited the bakery while Maria tio take care of Julio. Noelia came upstairs with a cup of coffee, he was taking a short break to see his wife and kids. Enrique and Sofia ran to hug him, they also asked to see him w at the bakery but Noelia kindly told them it was a w area, so children their age shouldn’t be there which made them disappointed.

  Noelia turo Maria and kissed her on the cheek, he then asked, “How have you been while I was downstairs, dear?”

  “A bit tiring with Julio, he got quite some energy for his age,” Maria replied

  “My boy likes to move around, huh?” said Noelia, grabbing Julio. “Perhaps you’ve grown faster.”

  “Do you think he would grow up to be an athlete?” Maria asked.

  “Haha, that would be surprising aing to see,” Noelia replied.

  “I better go back downstairs, take care of the kids,” said Noelia, handing over Julio to Maria then he walked downstairs.

  “Alright dear! Good luck!” Maria replied.

  Maria looked at Julio and said, “We’re going to have such a day.”

  Julio became more full of energy even at night. Cries duri night made Noelia and Maria exhausted and frustrated. It was worse than how they handled Enrique and Sofia. They also had to handle Julio’s stant hitting especially on his elder sister Sofia. He would sometimes hit Sofia when they were pying which made her cry a lot.

  “Stop it, Julio. Don’t hit your own sister!” said Maria, standiweewo children, separating them in the process. Maria told Sofia to go to her room first as she was going t Julio to his room.

  Maria put Julio into his crib and sat down to take a short break. Maria felt tired despite it being only half an hour. The exhaustion wasn’t only physical; it was mental too. Maria looked at Julio who was sleeping peacefully, his tiny fist g the b.

  Someone knocked and opehe door, it was Rosa who came to check them.

  “Are you okay, Maria?” Rosa asked. “You almost look pale.”

  “I’m just tired, Mrs Sanchez,” Maria replied. “I was just stopping Julio from hitting Sofia,

  “Julio’s quite a fighter,” said Rosa.

  “I don’t really like that. I don’t want my child to grow up to be violent,” said Maria.

  After an exhausting day, Noelia told Maria to rest or take fresh air outside. Noelia would be going to put them to sleep. Maria appreciated his initiative a outside. Maria took a deep breath, she was feeling tired as well.

  Then Maria suddenly looked at a shadowy figure standing. She looked closer and realized the silhouette, she knew who the particur figure was, so she began more vigint than ever and had a feeling that it might endangered her family.

  Maria would soohe same figure again. It began to worry her as she was being stalked. She called the police but they couldn’t find the persoher. Maria started to get scared, she remembered her pn but was hesitant of doing it, fearing it would hurt them. She then finally came to a clusion that she must act.