Sitting on simple benches made from tree trunks, Aziz, Agnes, and Liora watched the fireplace flames in silence. The crackle of the fire was the only sound, breaking the monotony of the night that slowly settled in.
The air was slightly cool, carrying the aroma of burning wood and the occasional rustle of leaves swaying in the wind. The bluish light of the flames cast wavering shadows on the ground and on each of their faces, creating an almost hypnotic scene.
Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, as if the fire were a window to inner worlds the others could not see.
Aziz, his silver eyes reflecting the flames, felt the weight of longing tighten in his chest. The image of his family came to his mind with painful clarity.
'I wonder what they're doing now? Are they thinking of me too? Do they miss me the way I miss them?'
The question echoed in his mind, bringing a mix of warmth and melancholy.
