Ellie’s POV
That night, the fire crackled in the center of the courtyard. The children sang softly before drifting off to sleep. Maya lay curled up on a blanket nearby, her little chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm, the wooden sword still clutched loosely in her hands as if she didn’t want to let it go even in her dreams.
I leaned against Ethan, my head resting on his shoulder. The flames painted shadows on his face, and the warmth of his arm around me made the night feel softer. My voice was barely above a whisper. “Do you see her? That was me once. Scared. Lost. No one believed in me.”
His hand tightened on mine, his thumb brushing my skin in a comforting circle. His voice was low but steady. “But now you’re giving her what you never had. You’re giving her a chance.”
I turne
