Chapter 21

The sun had already climbed high, casting a warm golden hue over the world as Xavier and I finally hit the trail. The air was fresh, a vivacious symphony of pine and earth that filled my lungs with each breath. I had always found solace in the wild, a sanctuary where the chaos of life seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the simple rhythm of nature. Xavier walked beside me, his strides confident and sure as we navigated the winding path. The trail was a familiar one, etched into my memory from…