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Days passed, though time seemed to lose meaning for Kian. He buried Lila beneath the tallest tree in the forest, the one they used to sit under when they were younger, dreaming about a future free from pain. It was a small comfort, knowing that she was at peace, that she would always be a part of the woods they had called home.
But the cabin, once filled with laughter and warmth, now felt unbearably empty. Kian wandered its rooms, haunted by memories of Lila’s laughter, her voice, her smile. Every corner reminded him of the life they had built together, the life they had fought so hard to protect.
For weeks, Kian barely ate or slept, consumed by grief. The world outside was still battling the virus, still struggling to survive, but Kian felt like he had already lost everything.
One stormy night, as the rain battered the windows of the cabin, Kian sat by the fireplace, staring into the flames. He had always been the protector, the one who fought for survival. But now, without Lila, what was he fighting for?
He heard a soft rustle, almost like a whisper. His heart stopped. For a moment, he thought he could feel her presence—a warmth, a gentle breeze through the cabin. It was fleeting, but it brought him a strange sense of calm.
"You’re still here," Kian murmured, tears streaming down his face. "You never really left, did you?"
He realized then that Lila’s words had been true. She would always be with him, in the woods they loved, in the home they had built together. Even in death, her spirit lived on in the trees, in the earth, in the quiet moments of the forest.
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YOU ARE READING
Shadows of the Twilight
KurzgeschichtenAfter the sudden death of their mother, siblings Kian and Lila are left at the mercy of their abusive stepfather, Ethan. Trapped in a home filled with violence and fear, Kian becomes Lila's protector, shielding her from Ethan's escalating rage. As t...
