In the quiet countryside of Belgium, hidden deep within a dense forest, stood an abandoned cave house—its stone walls carved out of the rugged hillside centuries ago. Time had swallowed it, leaving only whispers of its history in the chilly wind that swept through the trees.
Long ago, the cave house had been a haven. A family once lived there—a mother, a father, and their daughter, Elise. It was a modest life, but filled with love. The father had built the home with his bare hands, a labor of love, using the natural formations of the cave to create a shelter that blended seamlessly with the land. The mother filled the space with warmth, her laughter echoing through the stone walls, while Elise grew up surrounded by the beauty of the forest, its trees her playground.
But the world outside their little sanctuary changed. War swept through Belgium, taking with it the peace they had known for years. One fateful day, the father was conscripted to fight, leaving his wife and daughter behind, promising to return soon. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, but he never came back.