The forest stretched endlessly before her, a sea of dark trees whispering under the morning wind. Isla stumbled forward, clutching her cloak tighter around her belly. Every step sent pain shooting through her legs, but stopping wasn't an option. The rain from last night had soaked the ground, turning the path into a trail of mud. Her shoes were ruined, her hands cut and trembling, yet her will burned stronger than ever.
Freedom. It was supposed to feel lighter than this. But it was cold, uncertain, and terrifying.
She paused beside a fallen tree and lowered herself slowly to the ground. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her heart pounding as she tried to steady her shaking body. She touched her stomach gently. "We're almost there," she whispered. "Just a little more."
Her voice was soft, but hearing it reminded her she was not truly alone. Inside her was a fragile life that gave her reason to keep moving, reason to defy both men who had tried to own her.
