Esme wandered through the streets, her steps slow and deliberate as her head spun slightly. It wasn't dizziness from exhaustion, but rather the sharp contrast between darkness and light. She had spent too long in the shadows, her eyes shut away from the world. Now, the sun bore down on her, unforgiving and bright.
Still, her body was holding up well—better than expected. There was weakness, yes, but not the kind that would bring her to her knees. She had endured worse.
She lifted her gaze and took in the city around her.
Three years.
Three years was not enough for a city to transform beyond recognition, but small things had changed—new roads, fresh paint on old buildings, unfamiliar signboards. And then, something caught her eye.
A sign.
Not just any sign.
Valhale and Aron Group.
Her company.
Esme's lips curled into a fleeting smile as she took in the banners, the new stores, the thriving business. It was still standing. No—more than that, it was flourishing.
