Another week had passed. Back in the village, the afternoon had become routine. The girls delivered the fruit, cleaned the kitchen, and dispersed to their tasks. But Yuli couldn't get Ren's eyes out of her head, nor his voice, which had stirred something unexpected inside her.
At dusk, Yuli went looking for Kaela. She found her in the common area, sitting by the fire with her daughter Sira asleep in her arms, the child's small face softly lit by the glow of the flames.
"May I sit?" Yuli asked.
"Of course," Kaela replied with a smile.
A warm silence settled between them. Yuli broke it without hesitation.
"We spoke with Ren the other day, the boy from the spice stall."
Kaela raised an eyebrow and smiled, with that mischievous glint she only showed when she knew something she didn't intend to say aloud.
"Oh? And what did you think of him?"
"He's… calm, kind," Yuli said, lowering her gaze a bit. "He said you were his friend. That you used to teach him how to defend himself when you came to visit Silas."
Kaela nodded, her eyes fixed on the fire.
"He was just a boy when I met him, but even then, he was brave. He was there the day of the attack… helped his mother out from under the rubble, you know? No one taught him. He just… did it."
"Yeah… he told us," Yuli whispered. "And for some reason… I can't stop thinking about him."
Kaela looked at her with tenderness. She didn't tease. She didn't smirk.
"Sometimes, when you least expect it, someone comes along and reminds you your heart is still alive," she said. "That happened to me with Silas. I didn't see it coming. But when it happened… I just knew."
Yuli swallowed hard.
"Do you think it's wrong… to feel something like that? Now?"
"After everything we've lived through?" Kaela replied. "No. I think it's wonderful."
They sat in silence, watching the flames dance. Yuli ran her fingers over the edge of her cloak, feeling something new taking root inside her, something else to fight for.