Chapter 57: Reflection and Bonds
Sitting on simple benches made from tree trunks, Aziz, Agnes, and Liora watched the fireplace flames in silence. The crackle of the fire was the only sound, breaking the monotony of the night that slowly settled in.
The air was slightly cool, carrying the aroma of burning wood and the occasional rustle of leaves swaying in the wind. The bluish light of the flames cast wavering shadows on the ground and on each of their faces, creating an almost hypnotic scene.
Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, as if the fire were a window to inner worlds the others could not see.
Aziz, his silver eyes reflecting the flames, felt the weight of longing tighten in his chest. The image of his family came to his mind with painful clarity.
’I wonder what they’re doing now? Are they thinking of me too? Do they miss me the way I miss them?’
The question echoed in his mind, bringing a mix of warmth and melancholy.
While he was lost in these memories, Liora and Agnes — seated close to him — noticed a subtle change in his expression. It wasn’t pure sadness, but something that blended longing and affection, as if he had remembered something precious.
"What are you thinking about, Aziz?" Liora asked, her voice firm but without coldness, breaking the silence that had settled.
He blinked, slowly returning to reality. He lifted his gaze from the flames and met Liora’s eyes.
"Family. I’m thinking about what they might be doing right now," he answered simply, before returning his gaze to the fire.
"I see... you’re very attached to them, aren’t you?" Liora pressed, with a touch of curiosity in her voice.
"Yes. They are everything to me. Each one of them."