~ JESSICA ~
The garden was quiet now, just the soft rustle of leaves and the gentle crunch of gravel under my boots. Stone and I moved in silence, my thoughts drifting aimlessly as I soaked in the fresh air. It felt good to breathe without the weight of fear pressing down on my chest. I inhaled deeply, letting the crisp early afternoon air fill my lungs—a small reprieve from the uncertainty that had been my constant companion.
We walked without purpose, just circling the garden, and I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me. My feet, warm inside the boots I was wearing, welcomed the sensation from stretching my legs, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in weeks. I wasn’t sure how long we had been walking when I heard the sound of an engine rumbling in the distance. The noise drew my
