"And that was how it all happened," Elena began, her words hanging heavy in the air. She glanced around at her friends, their expressions a mosaic of shock and sympathy.
They had been her confidantes since she arrived in this small village, fleeing the accusations and betrayals that had shattered her world.
"I was in love with him before," Elena continued, her gaze distant as she recalled memories that felt both vivid and dreamlike.
"I only saw him in my dreams, and only at night. I had never known he was a demon." She paused, trying to find the right words to convey the surreal nature of her experiences.
"He was so handsome and caring," Elena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He disappeared after our first night together. We were never intimate... I would wake up alone, surrounded by the remnants of a dream." Her fingers absently traced patterns on the worn wooden table, as if trying to grasp the fleeting memories.