The sound of rustling leaves and the gentle breeze of the afternoon calmed my racing thoughts. After everything that had happened, I found solace in the small clearing just beyond the packhouse, with a sturdy tree as my refuge. Its wide branches provided a perfect reading spot, high above the ground where I could be alone and escape the tension that seemed to follow me everywhere.
I sighed, leaning back against the thick trunk, my book resting in my lap. The world in these pages was far simpler than mine—full of adventure, love, and characters who always seemed to know what to do. If only real life were like that.
I had been up in this tree for the better part of an hour, enjoying the peace and the soft chirping of birds when I heard someone approaching. The steps were light but firm, no
