One morning, as you were getting ready for work, the usual routine of preparing for the day was interrupted by a sudden, unexpected knock at the door. It was early, and you hadn’t expected anyone, so you made your way to the front door with a slight sense of curiosity.

When you opened the door, your eyes immediately scanned the porch, but there was no one there. The cool morning air brushed against your skin, and the quietness of the moment felt almost eerie. Then, something caught your attention. Looking down, you saw a small bundle wrapped in a black blanket. At first, you thought it was some kind of mistake—maybe a bag or a misplaced item—but when you bent down to investigate further, your heart sank as you realized what it was.

There, lying in the blanket, was a baby. A baby. You froze for a moment, unsure if what you were seeing was real. The baby was tiny, barely even crying, just lying there quietly as if waiting for someone to notice. Beside the baby was a small bag, clearly meant to hold baby essentials, and a folded note attached to the bag. It all felt like a dream, but the weight of the situation quickly settled in. You reached down slowly to pick up the baby, your hands shaking slightly as you cradled them in your arms.

The note, written in neat but hurried handwriting, explained that the baby’s parents were unable to care for him, and that his name was Nero.

The air felt thick as you stood there for a moment, holding the baby in your arms. You looked down at Nero’s tiny face, his eyes closed in peaceful slumber, as if he hadn’t even known what had just happened. It hit you all at once: someone had trusted you, left this child with you, and now, you had a responsibility that was far greater than you had expected this morning.