Chapter 71 A Breath Of Hope

• The realization that she might be buried alive sent shivers down her spine, and she could feel her heart racing, the world closing in around her.
• "Bruno..." she gasped, whispering his name like a prayer. In the depths of her despair, she clung to the hope that he would come, that he would somehow sense her fear and race to her rescue. She closed her eyes, envisioning him, strong and unwavering, just as he had been when he gifted her those shoes—the shoes that had given her a glimmer of safety amid the storm.
• As moments stretched into an eternity, the reality of her situation began to settle in. The ground above was a heavy shroud, and the air was growing thinner, her lungs burning for oxygen. She felt the cold grip of despair creeping into her heart, wrapping around her like a serpent. "God... if you're there..." she whispered hoarsely, tears streaming down her cheeks, mixing with the dirt on her face. "Forgive me for my sins. I've tried to be good. I've tried to survive."