Chapter 47

• The days that followed felt like a second beginning.
• News of Daniel’s decision spread quickly through the village. The elders nodded with quiet approval, while the children cheered his name the moment they saw him walking toward the cultural hall. Some of the younger ones tugged at his hands, asking if he was really staying, and when Daniel smiled and said yes, their joy was loud and free.
• Ayu resumed her work at the weaving center, though something in her rhythm had changed—more light, more grace. There was no longer the heaviness of waiting, no longer the ache of uncertainty. When she and Daniel crossed paths during the day, there were still no grand displays of affection. Just quiet looks. A smile. A moment of stillness shared between two souls who had finally chosen the same direction.