Chapter 61

In his stoic gaze, I see the echoes of a forgotten vulnerability. My heart aches for the man who has been strong for so long that he's unfamiliar with the gentle dance of weakness.

-Unknown.

|A L E E Z A|

I arrived at the location Kirill shared, the familiarity of the forest tugging at the edges of my consciousness. However, I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. The gravity of the situation unfolded before me as I saw him, a man I knew as strong and dominant, now sitting with his back against a tree, his vulnerability laid bare.

The forest seemed to hold secrets, echoing with a shared history that transcended the present. But my attention was drawn to him, who looked more like a fragile child than the formidable man I knew.

His knees were pulled close to his chest, head buried between his palms, as if seeking refuge from the storm within.

I approached him quietly, my steps careful on the forest floor. As I kneele