On a sunlit summer afternoon in Puerto Vallarta, the seaside boardwalk pulsed with music, laughter, and the rhythm of the waves. For most, it was a place of joy. For Elena, it carried a silent ache. Eight years earlier, she had walked that same beach hand in hand with her young daughter, Sofía. One brief moment of distraction was all it took. When Elena turned back, her child was gone. What followed were years of searching, unanswered questions, and a hope that refused to die.
Eventually, life pulled Elena back to Mexico City. She reopened her small bakery, greeting customers with warm bread and practiced smiles. She honored the memory of her late husband and carried on, believing—quietly, stubbornly—that someday she would learn the truth about Sofía. That belief was tested daily, yet it never left her heart.
