The air inside the room felt heavy. Suddenly, Lara needed to take a deep breath. She stood up trembling and went to the window. She opened it, letting the cold night wind embrace her tear-wet face. Outside, the world seemed silent, oblivious to her pain. Without thinking, without planning, she crossed the room, grabbed the coat hanging on the chair, and jumped out the window as if running away was the only possible remedy.

  The village streets were plunged in twilight. Only the sound of a dog in the distance mixed with her footsteps. In the air, the smell of wet earth and distant smoke revealed that someone must have lit a fireplace. The old houses, lined up, had drawn curtains and empty windows. A woman sweeping in front of her door looked up as she passed. She scrutinized her from head to toe, snorted, rolled her eyes disdainfully, and returned to her task. Lara lowered her face, clutched the coat to her body, and continued on, feeling the heat of shame blend with the cold of the night.

  She walked aimlessly, guided only by the instinct to flee from everything. Until, after crossing a more isolated part of the village, something caught her attention. On top of a small hill rose wrought iron walls, and behind them, the imposing outline of a mansion. The walls shimmered under the soft moonlight, and the garden in front seemed to pulse with life of its own. Surprised, Lara stopped. She had never seen it before, as if that place had appeared that night just for her.

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  Curious, she climbed the hill by the dirt path on the side, her heart beating with a mix of fear and fascination. The gate was ajar and, when she pushed it, it creaked softly. Inside, the garden was a world apart, an explosion of colors and aromas. Flowers of all shades decorated the flowerbeds, blending the sweet scent of roses with the freshness of herbs and the light touch of jasmine coming from the wall covered with vines. Lara knelt, touching the petals gently, as if touching something sacred. For the first time in a long while, she was able to smile.

  She took off her shoes, letting her bare feet meet the cold, soft grass. The sensation almost made her cry again, but this time with joy; the lightness she felt was memorable. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the scent of the flowers cleanse her chest and the fresh air wash her emotional wounds. For brief moments, she forgot the weight she carried and the world, for the first time, seemed to embrace her.