Chapter 33

• The clouds, the vast expanse of blue, the gentle breeze, and the golden horizon... they were truly mesmerizing to behold. I had been sitting on that part of the beach for hours. The fishing boat had long disappeared after a day of casting nets, yet there I remained, sitting in the sand, gazing into the distance.
• I cherished being alone on that beach, using the time to sort through my thoughts. It had been months, maybe even years, since I last had such solitude to think and reflect. And it was worth it. I didn't feel hungry, even though noon had passed. I simply felt... at peace. A peace I guarded carefully, knowing that a single disturbance could shatter it. That peace was like mist—it vanished in an instant.
• During that period, the sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden ray that touched my face. I moved away from the sunlight; I didn't enjoy staring directly at the sun with its light shining on me.