AriaThe iron gates of the old church creaked open under my trembling hands, and for the first time in hours, I breathed without looking over my shoulder. The night had been endless with every rustle in the bushes, every distant car engine, a potential threat. My feet ached and my mind spun. But here, beneath the faded cross above the entrance, something inside me unclenched just a little.I slipped inside. The air smelled of old wood, incense, and candle wax. It was quiet and sacred. Far away, Father Miguel knelt at the altar, head bowed in prayer, his white hair glowing softly in the candlelight. I remembered him from years ago, he was the kind man who had given me sweets after confession with my father. He looked older now, frailer, but the same gentle presence remained.I sat in the back pew, knees weak, and waited for him to be done. The silence wrapped around me like a blanket I hadn’t earned, and my eyes grew heavy with fear, exhaustion, and the weight of everything Elena had d
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