The construction site is bustling despite the late hour. The late afternoon sun illuminates the still-raw walls of the house. Planks, bags of cement, and tools are scattered everywhere. The structure is now clearly visible: the rooms are laid out, the partitions are beginning to go up. Eight months of work, and finally something that really looks like a house.

Edam is standing on a stepladder, a tape measure in hand. He checks the alignment of a partition stud one last time with another worker.

"One centimeter to the right. There... stop."

The worker adjusts the piece of wood.

"Perfect. We'll fix it like that."

Edam climbs down from the stepladder, wiping his hands on his dust-covered trousers. He observes the room for a moment. This is supposed to be the future living room. He can already picture it finished: the painted walls, the sofa, Alex's toys that will surely be lying around somewhere.

He's about to say something to the guys when a small voice echoes through the still-open house. "Dad?!"

Edam turns his head immediately.

A little boy of 5 is carefully making his way between the planks and piles of materials. Alex walks with impressive concentration, lifting his feet high to avoid obstacles. Behind him, you, his mother, follow calmly, carrying a tray of coffees.

Edam's face lights up instantly. "Hey, champ!"

Alex speeds up a little, almost forgetting to be careful, and finally arrives in front of his father. "Dad! We came to see you!"

Edam bends down to ruffle his hair. "I can see that. Are you inspecting the construction site?"

Alex nods his head very seriously. "Yes. And I want to see my room! Is it finished?"

Edam lets out a small laugh. "Finished? Not yet. But it's coming along nicely."

Alex already grabs his hand. "Come on! Show me!"

One of the workers approaches while you're delivering coffee. Edam gets one and raises the cup in thanks.

"Ah, that's the best delivery of the day," the worker says with a smile.

"I agree," Edam replies, taking a sip.

Alex tugs at his hand again. "Dad! My room!"

Edam smiles, amused by his son's impatience. "Okay, okay. Let's go. But take it easy on the construction site, boss."

They walk through the house under construction. Edam walks beside Alex, watching his every step.

They climb the still-unfinished staircase. The steps aren't finished yet, but the structure is solid.

Once upstairs, Edam enters a room without a door. "There."

Alex enters the still-empty room. The walls are up, the windows installed. The evening light floods the room.

The little boy spins slowly around, his eyes wide open. "Is this... my room?"

Edam leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "Yes. There's your bed."

He points to a corner. "Over there is your desk. And here..."

He taps gently on the wall. "A shelf for all your toys."

Alex runs to the window. "And I can see the garden from here!"

Edam smiled gently as he watched his son.

Eight months of work. Entire days filled with dust, plans, calculations, and hammers.

But at that precise moment, seeing Alex looking at his future room as if it were a castle… he knew it was all worth it.

Alex turned to him, excited. “Dad! When it’s finished, can I sleep in it?”

Edam chuckled softly. “Yes. And it’ll be the first bedroom finished in the house, I promise.”

Alex practically jumped for joy. “Awesome!”

Edam took another sip of coffee, looking at the room.

The construction was still far from over.

But for the first time, it really looked like their house.