Myra burst through the cottage door, her breath coming in ragged gasps, the satchel of herbs clutched tightly in her hand. A wave of guilt washed over her for her abrupt departure from Freya, the memory of the kiss and her subsequent flight a confusing jumble in her mind.

  Inside the main room, the familiar sight of her grandmother resting peacefully on the pallet was a welcome relief. But she wasn't alone. Sitting beside her, diligently watching over the sleeping form, was Isa, a kind-faced woman with silver threads woven through her dark hair. Isa was a respected elder in the vilge, often lending a hand to those in need and a frequent caregiver for Myra’s grandmother whenever Myra had to leave to tend to chores or run errands.

  Isa looked up, her gaze a mixture of relief and gentle concern. “Myra, child,” she said, her voice soft but carrying a note of mild reproof. “You’ve been gone a long while. I was beginning to worry. The sun has been down for hours.” Her eyes scanned Myra’s flushed face and slightly disheveled appearance, a silent question in their depths. Isa had likely assumed Myra had been gathering herbs or tending to other tasks within the vilge or the nearby woods. Myra’s hurried entry and flustered state were certainly out of the ordinary.

  "Yes, Isa," Myra said, trying to catch her breath and project an air of normalcy. "I went further into the woods than I intended, searching for a specific root. Time just… slipped away from me. I apologize for being so te." She avoided Isa's direct gaze, her hand instinctively reaching up to touch her slightly swollen lip, a lingering reminder of Freya’s kiss.

  Isa’s keen eyes, however, had already noticed the delicate swelling and the faint redness around Myra’s mouth. A knowing, yet gentle, look crossed her face. "You've been rough with yourself, child," she commented, her tone suggesting she suspected more than just a te return from herb gathering. "Did you perhaps… stumble and fall in the woods?"

  Myra quickly seized upon the offered expnation. "Yes, that's it," she said, perhaps a little too eagerly. "I tripped over a root and… well, nded awkwardly. My lip must have caught on something." She offered a weak smile, hoping Isa would accept the flimsy excuse without further probing. The st thing she needed was to expin her encounter with an ancient vampire and the strange intimacy they had shared.

  Isa’s brow furrowed with concern, her gaze lingering on Myra’s face. “Going so deep into the woods alone, especially if it meant you were out te, is not wise, Myra,” she said, her voice ced with genuine worry. “The forest can be a dangerous pce, and for a young woman on her own, with your grandmother relying on you here…” She shook her head gently, her disapproval clear.

  She then sighed softly, her expression softening slightly as a different thought seemed to cross her mind. “It’s hard, I know, for a woman alone, especially with the responsibility of caring for your grandmother. It puts a heavy burden on your young shoulders.” Isa’s eyes held a knowing empathy, understanding the challenges Myra faced.

  Then, a subtle shift occurred in Isa’s demeanor, a hint of matchmaking in her kind eyes. “You know, Myra,” she began, her tone becoming a touch more suggestive, “my son, Gareth… he’s a good d. Very helpful, strong too. He’s often about the vilge, always willing to lend a hand. Tall, with broad shoulders and a kind heart… He’s a skilled woodcutter, and he knows the woods well. If you ever needed… assistance, or just someone to accompany you…” Isa let the unspoken suggestion hang in the air, her gaze meeting Myra’s with a hopeful glint. It was a well-intentioned offer, a practical solution rooted in the community’s desire to support those in need, but for Myra, it nded with a peculiar irony.

  Myra offered Isa a grateful smile, though a hint of awkwardness touched her features. "Thank you, Isa," she said sincerely. "That's very kind of you to think of me, and Gareth has always seemed like a good man." She paused, choosing her words carefully, her thoughts still swirling with the memory of Freya.

  "I know I can't say no to such a generous offer," she continued, hoping to convey her appreciation without committing to anything further. "But right now, my focus really needs to be on getting my grandmother feeling better. She's been unwell for so long, and I just want to dedicate all my energy to helping her heal."

  Myra's eyes then drifted towards the satchel containing the precious herbs, a renewed sense of purpose filling her. "Once she's stronger, once I know she's on the mend," she added, offering Isa a reassuring nod, "then perhaps… then we can talk more about it. Thank you again, Isa, for your kindness and for looking after her for me." She hoped Isa would understand her hesitation, her desire to prioritize her grandmother’s well-being above all else. The unexpected turn her life had taken made the prospect of pursuing a traditional courtship feel distant and somewhat surreal.