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✲꘏ ꘏ ꘏ ꘏✲
Before I could climb the last few rungs, four hands reached down, grabbed me under the arms, and pulled me inside.
They helped me shrug the heavy pack from my aching shoulders and back before fastening a safety harness around my body. A moment later, they secured themselves as well.
The helicopter climbed higher and surged forward.
I glanced around the cramped cabin and immediately noticed a pair of dark brown eyes watching me with quiet curiosity. The nostrils of his straight nose flared ever so slightly, while his full crimson lips slowly curved into a warm smile.
After everything I had endured, it seemed I had finally encountered the first genuinely kind person.
I couldn't remember the last time I had seen such an open, unguarded gaze.
War had driven us apart. It had turned strangers into enemies and stripped people of their humanity.
Yet, judging by the purity in this man's eyes, the war had not yet managed to destroy the world within him.
I snapped out of my thoughts only when someone clicked their fingers in front of my face.
The man sitting opposite me, still holding my hand, let out a quiet chuckle.
His smile was even gentler than his gaze, and deep dimples appeared in his cheeks.
"Where are we going?" I asked with a weary sigh, my eyes drifting over the three other men seated on the floor of the helicopter, all dressed in light gray military uniforms.
Each was occupied with his own task.
One was writing a letter.
Another was eating.
The third was reading a book.
None of them looked at me or at the man sitting across from me. None seemed to be listening to our conversation.
Or at least I believed they weren't.
"First, to a place where we can board a ship and cross the Atlantic," the brown-eyed man replied, letting out a tired sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck. His short black hair was matted together, and sweat glistened across his broad forehead.
"The Atlantic?" I echoed, wanting to be certain I hadn't misheard.
"Yes."
He nodded calmly, blinking several times as his gaze wandered elsewhere before returning to me.
"Traveling by sea is one of the safer options right now. If we tried to fly across, our chances of reaching the other continent would be practically nonexistent."
"So... I'm going back to Boston," I whispered, barely audibly.
The man asked what I had said, but instead of repeating myself, I murmured another question.
