Instead, it felt like uncertainty accompanied by a willingness to remain present.
That distinction mattered.
She did not suddenly become fearless. She simply discovered that she could experience fear without immediately obeying the impulse to escape.
For a few moments, that was enough.
Then she noticed something near the fence.
At first, she barely registered it. Her attention was divided between the landscape and the memories it had awakened. The detail seemed too small to matter.
But something about it drew her attention.
She looked again.
And slowly, the past began to take on a different shape.
Chapter 3: The Small Detail Near the Fence
The object was not remarkable at first glance.
It was a small plaque attached to the fence, positioned near a tree that stood a little apart from the others. The plaque had been exposed to years of changing weather, and its surface showed signs of age. Some of the lettering had faded, making the words difficult to read from a distance.
