Chapter 115 A Fragile Dawn

• The sun had returned, though its light was tentative, like a shy visitor peeking over a horizon that had been shrouded in darkness for months. It fell in pale, golden slants across the rooftops and streets of Talawan, muted yet unmistakably warm. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the survivors could see more than the grey haze that had dominated the endless night and the solar freeze.
• Lucy stood on the balcony of her house, arms crossed, shoulders wrapped in a thick wool sweater. She squinted at the sunlight, feeling its unfamiliar warmth against her skin. Beside her, Darren adjusted the straps of a pack, keeping a watchful eye on the small group of children playing in the yard.
• Dani and Lisa were helping to carry small baskets of herbs and root vegetables from the garden toward the house, humming quietly. Even in the middle of such a disaster, the girls had learned to find rhythm in their chores, their voices bright and steady as a promise that life continued.