Chapter 3:
Julia wandered through the woods behind her village, where the trees swayed like they were trying to tell her something. The wind brushed against her cheeks, soft and cold—like her grandmother's hands used to be.
She followed a narrow path, one she hadn't taken in years. It led to the hill where she and her grandmother used to sit and watch the clouds dance above the mountains.
She sat there now, knees hugged to her chest. The silence wrapped around her like a blanket—gentle but heavy.
Suddenly, a breeze carried a faint sound. It was like a whisper, but it wasn't just wind. It was… words.
"You're stronger than you think, little one."
Julia's heart skipped. That voice—it was soft, warm, familiar.
"Grandma?" she said aloud, eyes wide, scanning the trees.
There was no one.
Just the wind again.
But deep down, something stirred. Not happiness, not yet. But a flicker of comfort. Like maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she thought.
She stood up slowly, brushing off her skirt. And for the first time in days, her lips curled just a little.
It wasn't a full smile.
But it was a start.