The days after that went by in a blur of hard work, laughter, and quiet joy. Every morning we’d wake up early, eat breakfast with the others, and then head out to wherever we were needed—whether that was checking on the progress of the bridges and roads, meeting with the farmers to talk about new ways to make their crops grow better, or going back to the little clearing to work on our cottage.
Damon was everywhere, always moving, always checking things himself, always making sure that every single person felt seen and valued. I was right there with him, just like he’d said we would be. I learned so much in those first few weeks—how to listen properly, how to solve problems, how to make people feel safe and cared for. It wasn’t always easy, and there were days when my feet ached and my hea
