NATALIA’S POVThe seasons began to turn, soft and gentle, marking the passage of time in ways I had never before noticed. The heavy gray rains gave way to warm, golden sunshine that lingered long into the evening, painting the valley below in hues of amber and honey. The garden bloomed—roses climbing the stone walls, lavender lining the paths, wildflowers nodding in the breeze—and every morning, when I stepped outside, the air smelled of earth and sweetness and new life.And so it was with us. Slowly, quietly, without fanfare or grand declaration, the shadows began to fade. The weight that had pressed so heavily upon my chest lifted little by little, until one day I realized I could breathe freely again. I could walk through the village without lowering my head. I could meet people’s eyes without flinching. I could smile, and find that the smile reached my eyes, and stayed there.Drakon remained exactly as he had been—steady, patient, unwavering. But now, there was no longer any barri
Last Updated : 2026-08-19 Read more