That evening, the crackling of the fireplace filled the silence between us. "I still can't believe you're here," said Elly in a soft voice. I pulled my grandmother's old crocheted blanket more tightly around my shoulders and let out a long breath. The weight I had been carrying since the funeral suddenly felt like something that could be shared. Throughout all of this, I'd had to stay strong against the townspeople. But here, with Elly, I could finally let my guard down. "I'm barely holding on, Elly," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I keep telling myself I'm fine, that I can do this, that I'm keeping her memory alive. But the truth is... I'm scared. She was the only person I had. Now she's gone, and I'm in this place where everyone looks at me like I'm cursed, like I'm carrying death with me wherever I go." Elly moved closer to me immediately, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. "You're not cursed, Eva. You're brave. You came back here knowing full well what kind of reception y
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