curtains, warm and soft. Alice woke slowly, her body

to the hallway. The scent of fresh bread drifted from the k

no," Sofi

a small smile.

ed her a p

cameras, locals on bicycles, children chasing pigeons. Life moved freely he

akfast slowly, s

of beauty-stone bridges, old churches, tiny cafés with handwritte

r was open, the shelves overflowing. A yo

r something

her head. "J

scent of paper and ink. It reminded her of childhood, of simpler days

a noteboo

he window and opened the notebook. The firs

slowly,

le

t heavier tha

cont

. I left because I have a child to protec

wavered, but s

o I am now. But

he notebook

the faintest spark of somet

eng