THE ROAD OF THE HEART

The days in the mountain village had brought Anaberu the kind of peace she hadn't known in a long time. The simple, quiet rhythm of life—growing her food, working with the villagers, and helping in the market—was a balm for her wounded heart.

Yet, despite the calm, something inside her was restless. There were moments when she would look up at the sky and feel the weight of the past bearing down on her, a heaviness that wouldn't let go.

She had long since buried her memories of Takako, trying to move on, though his shadow still lingered at the edges of her thoughts. The truth of her feelings, the broken bond between them, remained like a scar on her soul.

But it was Kai who had truly left a lasting mark. The moments they shared—the silence between them, the quiet understanding, and the way he looked at her—remained vivid in her heart.

It was on one of her walks to the nearby market that she unexpectedly saw him.

"What was he doing here?" She thought.

The sight of him, standing among the crowd of villagers, took her breath away. It was fleeting, just a glimpse—a figure standing in the shadows of the market square, tall and unmistakable.

For a moment, their eyes locked, and in that instant, the world seemed to freeze. His dark eyes met hers, and for a heartbeat, everything felt suspended in time.

But before she could process what was happening, the crowd shifted, and he was gone, lost among the faces of the busy market.

Anaberu stood frozen in place, her heart racing. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she scanned the area, but there was no sign of him.

Was it truly him? Was she imagining it? She felt a strange mixture of emotions—a sharp longing for something she hadn't dared to name, and the overwhelming fear that she would never truly understand what had been between them.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Anaberu quickly turned away, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. She couldn't afford to entertain the idea of chasing him—whatever had happened between her and Kai, it was over. She had chosen her path.

The quiet life she had built in this village was a life she was trying to hold on to, not one that could be easily shaken by the shadows of the past.

As she made her way back to her small cottage, the sight of Kai stayed with her, like a lingering scent that wouldn't wash away. She was unsure if it had truly been him or if her heart had played tricks on her.

For the first time in a long time, Anaberu allowed herself to feel the full weight of her emotions. The love she had for Kai, the pain of his absence, and the guilt of moving forward without him—it was all there, swirling inside her like a storm she couldn't control.

But instead of running from it, she sat with the discomfort, allowing herself to feel everything. She owed herself that much.