The evening was calm. A soft breeze slipped in through the cracked window, carrying with it the faint sounds of distant chatter and the smell of roasted corn from the roadside. Sophie and Rohan sat side by side on the woven mat in their small room. A candle flickered between them, its light throwing gentle shadows on the walls.
Dinner had been simple—boiled rice with pepper sauce—but Sophie had prepared it with so much love that Rohan savored every bite. Now, with their bellies full, they sat in the stillness of the night. Sophie hummed quietly, her fingers absentmindedly twirling the pendant of the necklace Rohan had given her.
Rohan watched her, his heart swelling. Something about that moment—the peace, the warmth, her laughter echoing in his memory—filled him with a longing he could n
