Anna and I had been quiet for a long time, as tense as a bowstring about to break. Although she hadn't spoken it directly, her circumspect looks and terse answers revealed her suspicion, which hung over her like a shadow. After the mayhem I had pulled her into, I couldn't hold it against her. The widening gap between us, which I was unsure how to close, still worried me.After hours of walking, we finally came across the house. Its old wooden walls bent slightly, as though they were weighed down by the passage of time, and it was hidden under a canopy of overgrown trees. At least for the night, a safe haven.With a flat voice, as though she didn't care, Anna stated, "It looks empty." Instead of even looking at me, she scanned the woodland around her.I said in an indifferent tone, "Empty is good. We should check inside."She gave a nod, and we walked toward the cottage together. I pushed the creaking door open and saw a single room with a filthy table, a cracked hearth, and a rickety
Last Updated : 2025-01-16 Read more