Chapter 150 Roots And Reunion

• Hailey***
• The farmhouse had always been both a haven and a cage—a place far removed from the chaos that had consumed our lives. It was where I could pretend, even for a moment, that the world beyond its weathered walls didn’t exist. The isolation was a strange kind of comfort, one that held both solace and loneliness. The days passed quietly, the rhythm of the countryside punctuated only by the laughter of my children or the occasional rustle of wind through the trees.
• Summer, who had always been shy and reserved, had shown a bright curiosity these past few days. The seven-year-old had taken to exploring the nearby fields, dragging her little brother Max behind her like a loyal shadow. At just over a year old, Max was the perfect mimic, his chubby hands reaching for flowers or clapping at birds that flitted overhead. Watching them filled my heart with a fragile kind of peace. Here, they were safe. Here, they were untouched by the dangers that lurked outside.