Ellie’s POV
The hut felt colder than I remembered. My fingers were starting to go numb, so I decided to go outside and find some firewood. The air was crisp, and when I stepped out, I could hear the soft crunch of dried leaves under my boots. The forest was quiet, only the sound of distant birds and the rustle of wind through the trees.
I bent down, picking up dry sticks and small logs, stacking them carefully in my arms so they wouldn’t fall. My breath came out in white clouds in front of me. I don’t know why, but every time I came here, I felt like I was stepping into another life—a quieter life where everything wasn’t falling apart.
When I had enough wood, I carried it inside and set it beside the old stone fireplace. I knelt down, arranging the sticks, striking the match slowly unti
