Aisha's POV
We walked along the side of the house, passing small bushes and a low wooden fence. However, there were no signs of anything suspicious. No people, no footsteps, just the night sounds taking over again.The air felt calm, and although there was a slight sense of unease, I felt a deep tranquility. Suddenly, Julien stopped for a moment, staring into the darkness of the night. “Do you hear that?” he asked, his voice low.I looked around, trying to catch what sound he might mean. Only the chirping of crickets and the gentle wind rustling through the trees. “No, what do you hear?” I replied, a bit anxious.“It sounds like something in the distance,” he said, still listening intently. I followed, trying to listen better. But the sounds of the night continued to dominate, both calming and mysterious.“Let’s keep walking,” I suggested, trying to dispel my anxiety. We continued on, remaining alert but also trying to enjoy this mAisha's POV One hour passed.The tires slipped in the mud, causing the car to swerve. We were almost thrown out. Julien reflexively hugged Mrs. Narti's body to prevent her from rolling over. The driver shouted apologies while stabilizing the car again.My heart was pounding, almost jumping out of my chest. I gripped the side of the car tightly, trying to calm myself. The jolt earlier almost took Mrs. Narti's life."Be careful!" I shouted to the driver, my voice trembling with fear. "We have to be careful!"The driver nodded, his face full of regret. "I'm sorry, Doctor. The road is very slippery. I will be more careful."I sighed deeply, trying to calm myself. I knew the driver was trying his best, but the road was really bad. The heavy rains of the past few days had turned the dirt road into a slippery and dangerous mud pool.I turned to Julien, who was still hugging Mrs. Narti's body tightly. His face was pale, but his eyes were
Aisha's POV "Help! Can anyone help? Please call Julien and the Village Head!" I shouted as loudly as possible to call anyone who could help me.The calm morning atmosphere turned into chaos. Some residents who heard my voice immediately ran towards the house. But I couldn't stop. My focus was only on restoring Mrs. Narti's heartbeat.One… two… three… I continued to do chest compressions, then gave rescue breaths. I knew time was of the essence. Every second that passed could be the determinant of life and death.Mrs. Narti's body was cold and limp, but I didn't give up. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the sweat that was starting to soak my face even though the air was still morning."Come on, Mrs. Narti… hold on…," I whispered, like a mantra, while continuing to pump.Some residents finally came and immediately scattered towards the rice fields where Julien and the village head had gone earlier."Quickly call Julien! Quickly!" I shouted once agai
Aisha's POV The morning sunlight sneaked through the gaps in the thin curtains of this simple house, forcing my eyes to open slowly. I rolled over gently and stretched out my hand, but I realized this room was empty. There was no sound. Silence. I sat up and looked around, realizing I was alone in the room."Julien...?" I called softly, but there was no answer.I stood up, put on a thin jacket and stepped out of our temporary bedroom. The morning air was cold and fresh, the scent of wet soil still lingering from last night's dew. In front of the house, a middle-aged woman stood holding a tray containing two cups of tea and a plate of boiled sweet potatoes."Good morning, Doctor Aisha," greeted Mrs. Narti, the homeowner's mother, with a friendly smile. "Here's a simple breakfast first, yes. Sorry if it's simple."I returned the warm smile and welcomed the tray she offered. "Thank you so much, Bu. This means a lot. But... if I may ask, where did Julien go?""O
Aisha's POV I closed my eyes for a moment, letting Julien’s voice carry me far away from this place. The sound of the wind outside and the rustling leaves created a harmonious backdrop. In the darkness, I felt as if we were in a different world, separated from all fears.“How about now? Still scared?” Julien asked in the middle of the song, teasing a little.“A bit,” I replied, feeling more relaxed. “But your voice is really soothing.”“I’m glad. Maybe I could be a singer if the doctor thing doesn’t work out,” he said, and I could imagine the smile on his face.My fear slowly faded with each verse he sang. I began to feel more comfortable, as if we were in a safe space that belonged only to us. Julien’s voice was a reminder that I wasn’t alone, and that someone cared.While I tried to finish my business, Julien’s singing continued, serving as a kind of shield against the silence of the night that had made me uncomfortable. His voice
Aisha's POV We walked along the side of the house, passing small bushes and a low wooden fence. However, there were no signs of anything suspicious. No people, no footsteps, just the night sounds taking over again.The air felt calm, and although there was a slight sense of unease, I felt a deep tranquility. Suddenly, Julien stopped for a moment, staring into the darkness of the night. “Do you hear that?” he asked, his voice low.I looked around, trying to catch what sound he might mean. Only the chirping of crickets and the gentle wind rustling through the trees. “No, what do you hear?” I replied, a bit anxious.“It sounds like something in the distance,” he said, still listening intently. I followed, trying to listen better. But the sounds of the night continued to dominate, both calming and mysterious.“Let’s keep walking,” I suggested, trying to dispel my anxiety. We continued on, remaining alert but also trying to enjoy this m
Aisha's POV I reflected on everything that had happened. This journey was not just about work, but also about rediscovering myself. Every second here felt precious, and I felt a growing closeness to Julien.“This evening feels special,” I continued, my voice trembling slightly. “I feel connected to everything around us.”Julien looked at me, his eyes full of understanding. “I feel it too. This is an opportunity to do something good, and we are not alone.”I smiled, feeling warmth in his words. Moments like this made me realize how important support is. With all the challenges we would face, I felt more prepared with Julien by my side.“Tomorrow is a new day,” I said, trying to ignite enthusiasm. “We will make a difference, one small step at a time.”Julien nodded, his enthusiasm contagious. “Yes, and I’m sure we can do it together.”I realized that although this place was very far from luxury and comfort, it was here that I
Aisha's POV The sun had completely set behind the trees when we returned to the village hall. The air began to cool, and the sound of crickets replaced the cheerful noise of children who welcomed us earlier in the day. My body was tired, but my heart felt full. Today was the beginning of something big.We were warmly welcomed by the villagers, who seemed enthusiastic about our arrival. Every smile and greeting made me feel accepted, and I knew we were in the right place. With slow steps, I observed my surroundings; the simple houses and the strong sense of community moved me."What do you think?" Julien asked, walking beside me."I feel very excited," I replied, looking at the friendly faces gathered around us. "They are very open and eager to learn."Julien smiled. "I feel it too. This is the first step in building a deeper relationship with them."As we entered the village hall, I saw a large whiteboard prepared for discussio
Aisha's POV As I worked, I felt the tension in my chest begin to ease. With every step I took, I felt more ready to face the challenges ahead. And with Julien’s support, I knew I could rely on someone who believed in me.As the day turned to dusk, I looked at my work with a sense of satisfaction. This was a big step, and even though fear lurked, my spirit was stronger. Perhaps this was the right moment to move forward and take control of my own destiny.***At the airport that morning, it felt busier than usual, or maybe it was just my perception. With a suitcase in hand and a heavy backpack on my back, I hurried toward the international departure terminal. The Paris sky was still dark, illuminated only by the bright lights of the terminal.Julien was waiting for me near the check-in counter, wearing a dark jacket and a gray scarf wrapped around his neck. He raised his hand as soon as he saw me.“Good morning,” he greeted w
Aisha's POV “Thank you, Julien,” I said sincerely. “If it weren’t for you believing in and pushing this proposal, I might still be keeping it in a drawer right now.”Julien looked at me for a long time. There was a deep sincerity in his eyes. But as always, he maintained his distance, not crossing into territory I hadn’t necessarily allowed him to explore. While I appreciated that boundary, sometimes I wished I could share more.He then stood up and gently tapped the folder on the table. “In that case, I’ll also send all these files via email so you can study them in more detail later.”I stood up as well, nodding. “Thank you for coming in person. It means a lot to me.”“Glad to help,” he replied, his smile showing satisfaction. However, there was a sense that he wanted to say more, something held back between us.After a few seconds of silence, he added, “Don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything you want to di