The moon cast its silvery chill over Noha's chamber, its faint light slipping across the silk and ornate furniture. She sat on her bed, her heart overflowing with a mixture of fear and excitement. Just moments ago, her mother had entered the room with her sharp voice:
"Noha! You must get ready. The carriage is coming to take you to Sky's house now."
Noha looked at her mother, her eyes full of suppressed rebellion. She couldn't speak, but her heart screamed: No, this is not my choice… this is not my life.
She waited for a moment, then noticed the large window beside her. The door wasn't the only way out. Her heart pounded violently, yet she felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. She took a deep breath and gently pushed aside the curtain, holding onto the edge.
The cold night air brushed her face, the streets below silent except for the distant whispers of the city. Carefully, she descended into the garden, each step bringing her closer to the freedom she had longed for.
She made her way toward the lower districts, to the street where she had seen the bakery before, where the warm light spilled from a small window. There, in that glow, she saw him again: Arion, the golden-haired boy whose name she didn't yet know, working with his hands, laughing as he handed bread to a small child.
Noha froze for a moment, taking in the scene. Her heart fluttered wildly, as if all her fears and tension had transformed into curiosity and admiration. Finally, she gathered her courage and stepped closer.
Sensing movement near the bakery, Arion turned. His golden eyes met her hazel ones for the first time. There was a brief silence, as if the world had paused for a moment.
"I… I've seen you before… almost every day," Noha said softly, her voice trembling.
Arion smiled, that simple smile that had captured her heart from afar:"Really? I didn't know anyone noticed us here… the bakery is small, people rarely come by."
Noha felt a little flustered, yet she realized that speaking with him freed her slightly from her golden constraints. This was the first time she was talking to someone from the real world she longed for—a world far from palaces, obligations, and politics.
She sat beside him for a while, listening to him talk about his daily life, his bread, and the city, about the small things that she hadn't realized could make the heart feel calm and alive.
That night, Noha understood something important: the world she had seen from her window wasn't as far away as she had thought, and courage, even in small steps, could change everything.