Chapter 41

Lena sat quietly, humming as her hands worked the wool in her lap, shaping it into delicate stitches. The rhythmic sound of knitting needles clicking together filled the room, a soft, comforting noise against the backdrop of a gentle breeze drifting in from the slightly open window. The distant chirping of birds outside was almost drowned out by the faint rustling of trees.

She gazed out of the window as familiar figures came into view, footsteps crunching against the gravel pathway that wound through the garden.

“Oh, it’s Mariam,” she muttered softly, her voice barely audible over the natural symphony. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she stood up, only to sit back down again. Her gaze lingered for a moment, following the figures outside with a mix of curiosity and affection.

“She’s really taken a liking to Raul, hasn’t she?” Lena chuckled softly to herself. The way Mariam leaned into Raul, their heads close together in conversation, gave away their growing bond. The light