Third Person's POV
“I’m not that noble. I stayed here all this time… for…”
For Terence.
Halle left the thought unfinished, but they both knew what she meant.
“No matter the reason, this place will always be your second home,” Captain Howell said with a warm smile. “If you ever come back, I’ll throw a grand party just for you.”
Halle chuckled softly but didn’t respond.
Three years had passed, and there was plenty to pack. By the time she had everything ready, the sky was already starting to brighten.
Her ride was waiting downstairs. She took the compass from around her neck and placed it gently on the table.
She had carried it with her for three years, but now that she was leaving Tanzania, it was no longer needed.
Even if she found herself in danger, Terence, thousands of kilometers away, couldn’t come to her aid. Or perhaps by then, he’d be newly married and too preoccupied to think about her at all.
Breaking the last connection between them, Halle picked up her suitcase, walked out the door, and got into the car.
She had arranged for an early departure, knowing her teammates would still be asleep. Apart from that, Halle also hated goodbyes and didn’t want to see tears shed over her leaving.
The red SUV sped northward, disappearing into the valleys just as the sun began to rise.
Along the way, Tanzanian antelopes grazed peacefully, wolves roamed the open fields, and their howls echoed faintly through the mountains.
Halle smiled to herself, feeling an unexpected sense of peace. Her time here hadn’t been wasted. Watching the animals thrive, running free across the land, her heart felt full.
At that moment, she understood why Terence had been so steadfast all these years.
Her thoughts then drifted back to the night Darlene had shared a story by the water’s edge. The resentment she’d been carrying suddenly melted away.
Now, all she hoped for was that Terence could catch the poaching ring he’d been chasing and finally find peace within himself.
The wind swept through the mountains, brushing her hair lightly.
For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw the young man who had once rushed toward her without hesitation. He had short-cropped hair, and that day, the rain had been heavy, the wind biting cold. Yet his hands, holding the gun, had been steady. She remembered being cradled in his arms, the sound of stepping into wet ground mixing with his steady breathing. The faint scent of tobacco clung to him, strangely comforting, making her want to linger there forever.
But now, this wilderness would have new stories to tell.
As for the dream born in the name of love, it was time for her to let it go.
At the airport, the boarding announcement for her flight echoed through the terminal. Halle dragged her suitcase and passed through security. But just before stepping onto the plane, she hesitated, as if wanting to hold onto something. But there was nothing left to keep.
As the plane soared over the mountains, she opened the window shade. Below, thick clouds blanketed the ground, merging with the vast stretches of snow.
It was December, the start of the snowy season. Though the plane was warm, she still felt oddly unsettled.
Somewhere in that wilderness, the man she had once loved was chasing his dreams.
She wondered if today’s snowfall was as heavy as the rainfall of the day they first met, was the wind as bitter as it had been then?
Pushing aside her longing, Halle pulled the shade down, shutting out the view.
She had always believed that time would dull everything—her memories of him, her love for him.
Adjusting her seat, she reclined and closed her eyes. Just before sleep claimed her, one thought echoed in her mind, 'Terence, I won’t come looking for you again. This will be the last time we'll see each other.'
It was both her deepest wish and a promise to herself.
