Chapter 36 Tomorrow

  Melanie's PoV

  The embers of the dying fire cast an ethereal dance upon the walls, their luminous ballet a stark contrast to the weight in my chest. I edge closer to the hearth, seeking warmth, but the chill of loneliness is not one that can be soothed by mere flames.

  "Evergreen," I murmur to myself, the word tasting like a mix of pine needles and nostalgia on my tongue. The small town has always been more than just a place; it's a promise of roots, something my wandering heart has secretly craved even before the cruel winds stole my parents from me.

  "Melanie?" Morgan's voice interrupts the silence, his presence somehow both startling and comforting. "You've been quiet. What's on your mind?"

  I turn to him, his silhouette framed by the flickering light. "I've been thinking about settling here," I confess, the idea feeling foreign yet fitting. "Evergreen... It called to me long before the news of my parents' loss did. I think... I think it's time I answered."