The days had grown colder in Wallux, the sun's warmth now a distant memory as winter crept in, chilling the air and darkening the skies. It had been months since Jasper's death, months that Nicole had spent in a fog of grief and isolation. The village had changed in that time, the once-bustling streets now quiet, as if the life had been drained from the town along with him.
Nicole had fallen back into her old ways, scraping together a living as best she could. The money Jasper had left her had dwindled quickly, forcing her to sell the few remaining items he had given her. Each sale felt like a betrayal, a piece of him slipping further from her grasp. Yet, she had no choice—survival demanded sacrifices. The old trinkets, the small tokens of his affection, all found new owners in exchange for a few paltry coins.
