A soft wind grazed my neck as I overlooked the royal gardens, the scent of moss and dewdrops tickling my nose. It was nearly the end of spring, the birds singing the last of their songs for the season. I breathed in and out, listened as the crunch of footsteps approached from behind me.
"Thought I'd find you here." It was Niko, falling in place next to me as I felt his gaze linger at me.
"I needed some time to breathe," I admitted, my arms involuntarily wrapping my stomach.
"Don't we all?" he replied.
It had been a week since, and everything had mostly returned to normal. The city was recovering but it did seem like nothing had happened, the people smiling and going about their daily lives again.
"I heard they won't put a death sentence on her," Niko said, careful and gentle.
