The cold wind swept through, and Darlene, still recovering from her gunshot wound, began to look pale and unsteady. Seeing that, Halle quickly reached out to help her walk back to the camp.
However, just as she turned, she saw Terence striding toward them, his face dark with anger. Before she could ask about his injuries, he pushed her aside, making her stumble a few steps.
He grabbed Darlene by the arm, steadying her, and then cast a cold glance at Halle. His tone was distant, as usual, as he snapped, “You call yourself a doctor? Don’t you know someone recovering from a gunshot wound shouldn’t be exposed to cold?”
Darlene frowned at his accusation and was about to speak, but Terence cut her off and guided her back toward the camp.
Meanwhile, Halle stood frozen, her chest tightening painfully as she struggled to catch her breath. The biting cold wind stung her face, and her nose turned red from the cold. Blinking away the tears in her eyes, she sniffled hard and turned to follow them back.
By the time they returned, the sun had already dipped behind the mountains, painting the ground a golden hue.
Inside the cabin, someone paced near the table, their shadow blurred in the dim light. Even without seeing his face, Halle knew it was Terence.
With her coat somehow wet with the mist of the cold air outside, she stepped in and met Terence’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Ridiculous. Wandering around in the snow all afternoon,” he muttered, his tone exasperated before he turned and headed upstairs.
Left alone, Halle noticed the steaming cup of coffee on the wooden table. She sat down and drank it slowly until warmth returned to her body.
Doing so, memories from the past surfaced unbidden, filling her heart with a dull ache.
Third Person's POV
Three years ago, she had stood in this very place. Back then, everything about Tanzania had been new and fascinating to her. She would often wander through the mountains and lose herself in the scenery.
But the weather in the region was unpredictable, and heavy rain quickly turned the world into swamp, obscuring landmarks and directions.
One day, she had walked alone through the mountain for hours, unable to find her way back to camp. It wasn’t until midnight that Terence, with a flashlight in hand, found her drenched in the valley.