Evan sat beside his father's bed, the air thick with the scent of medicine and fading life. His father's once-powerful hands now trembled, a stark contrast to the man he had been. The walls seemed to close in around Evan as his father, pale and weak, grasped his arm with surprising strength.
"Evan, listen closely," his father rasped. "This map... it's for you. You must find her."
Evan's heart pounded in his chest. He had heard of his mother only in whispers, fleeting stories that never seemed to add up. "Find who?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"Your mother," his father said, his eyes clouded with memories and regret. "She's out there. And the map... it will lead you to her."
But the map, once hidden in his father's hand, was old, tattered, and cryptic. There were no names, no landmarks he recognized. Only an eerie trail that twisted across unfamiliar territories.
The weight of the map felt like a burden as Evan looked at his father's face, gaunt and weary. He wanted to ask more questions, but his father's final breath escaped before he could.
With a heavy heart and the map clenched in his hand, Evan made a decision. He would leave. He had to find her, even if he didn't believe she existed.