She sat down on a crumbling stone, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "Or is he… dead?" The thought was too painful to fully acknowledge, but it lingered at the edges of her mind. The fear of losing him was a heavy weight on her chest.
Sam tried to push the thought aside, but it persisted, gnawing at her. She remembered Tristan's words, his promise to return once Gabriel was safe. "No, that can't be true," she whispered, shaking her head as if to dispel the grim possibility. Her hands clenched into fists, and she fought to keep her emotions in check.
Every rustling leaf and distant sound seemed to taunt her, each one a reminder of Tristan's continued absence. Her resolve was being tested, and the loneliness was starting to take its toll.
Determined to believe in the promise Tristan had made, Sam stood up, brushing off the dust from her clothes. "He'll come back," she said, trying to convince herself. "He has to."
