Arielle’s POV
I walked slowly, my feet sinking into the soft mud with every step.
The rain had stopped, but the earth still clung to me, cool and heavy between my toes. I didn’t know how far I had wandered from the temple. All I knew was that the path in front of me didn’t feel familiar anymore.
My chest felt strange.
Not painful. Just… hollow.
I hugged my arms around myself as I walked, blinking away tears I didn’t remember inviting. It didn’t make sense. I had only met him for a little while. We had talked, laughed, and hidden from the rain.
He had been a stranger.
And yet, the ache inside me felt like I had lost someone dear—a dear friend.
I sniffed, swiping at my cheeks angrily. “That’s stupid,” I whispered to myself. “You don’t cry like this for strangers.”
But my heart didn’
