Elena’s POV

Morning light spilled through the kitchen windows in pale ribbons, glinting off the brass kettles and the thin curls of steam rising from the stove.

It was a beautiful sight unless you were stuck living a life that wasn’t befitting.

The scent of herbs and heat clung to my skin, seeping into every fold of my apron. I stirred the leaves slowly, watching the dark water swirl with calm on the surface, and wildness underneath.

The elders had requested tea for their morning ...