Chapter 24

Another New Year arrived, and the gunfire across Middleton finally ceased. The markets of Donfield slowly came back to life. On New Year's Eve, Natalie and Wesley walked side by side through the slightly crowded streets. The air was thick with the scent of spices, baked bread, and the faint, lingering tang of scorched earth. As midnight approached, survivors of the war looked up to the sky, hope flickering back to life. They gathered together for a countdown, voices rising as fireworks exploded in brilliant color overhead. Natalie's eyes glistened as she said, "Humans are tough. Give it a few months, and life always finds a way back." At last, they had a stretch of peace. They moved into an apartment with a small terrace. Life suddenly slowed down. Wesley would tinker with local ingredients and make strange fusion dishes. Natalie learned from locals and planted dozens of roses on their sunlit balcony. On their days off, they visited the school to help teach the children. The e