Ingrid and Caym walked side by side through the bustling streets, their footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestones. The air was filled with the chatter of passersby and the aroma of street food, but between them, a heavy silence hung in the air.
Ingrid's mind was still consumed by the haunting scene from the play they had witnessed earlier. The image of the mother pleading for her daughter's return stirred up memories and emotions she had long buried.
Did her own mother ever plead for her return when she was sent away to Sylvania? Ingrid doubted it. Although it has been more than a decade, the pain of abandonment had always been a silent ache in her heart. Even now, as she walked beside Caym, she couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that gnawed at her soul.
Her steps faltered, and before she knew it, she stumbled slightly. In an instant, Caym's strong arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her and preventing her from falling.
