All the women remained inside the carriage, motionless, staring through the windows as they watched Aziz walk away step by step. The sight of him growing smaller and more distant made each of their hearts ache, as if time had frozen for them in that instant.
Aziz walked on, steady, without looking back, determined in his new journey — a journey in which none of them had a place, at least not at that moment.
Silence dominated the carriage—deep and heavy. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard. It was as if the air had been sucked out of that space, leaving only the void of his absence.
Astrid was the first to recover. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment before turning her gaze away from the window. Upon opening her eyes again, she silently examined each of the women still standing. Their minds seemed frozen, trying to grasp what Aziz's departure truly meant.
*Clap!*
