Max's eyes blinked slowly, his fingers tapping softly.
The cold of the morning crept into his bones, but an even sharper chill pierced Max's heart. Mehwa's word “Go” still echoed in his ears, reverberating in the silence of the hut that now felt so empty. He stood there frozen all night, watching Mehwa sleep in the corner, her back to him.
Max felt like an intruder, no longer a privileged guest. The morning light filtered through the cracks in the walls, illuminating the dust dancing in the air and a bloodstained piece of cloth that he still clutched tightly in his hand. A stark reminder of the reason he was here: his friends.
When Max left the hut, he was greeted by the hustle and bustle of the village waking up. Women were busy preparing food, children were running around, and soldier
