Warm Return and Hidden Secrets

The tray clattered loudly as it hit the floor, but Sister Maria didn't even glance at the spilt contents. Her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes brimming with disbelief before softening into joy.

"Luke," she breathed, her voice trembling.

Without another word, she closed the distance between them in a few hurried steps and threw her arms around him, pulling him into a warm embrace.

Luke, though startled at first, quickly returned the hug, smiling as he felt the genuine care radiating from her. It had been so long since he'd last seen her, and being here again, surrounded by people who had shown him kindness when he'd first arrived in this strange world, filled him with a bittersweet sense of comfort.

"I missed you so much," Sister Maria whispered, her voice heavy with emotion. "I prayed for you every day, hoping you were safe, wherever you were."