PAID

The old woman chuckled softly as she looked into Valentin’s eyes, which were filled with expectation.

“I just kept living. Back then, there wasn’t even time to properly grieve. It wasn’t just me going through that, you know.”@@novelbin@@

The old woman’s hand gently patted Valentin’s.

“It’s not about who’s more unfortunate, or how my neighbor, Shahlro, lost more children than I did. It’s just something I came to understand naturally with time. That’s life.”

“…”

“Do you really think anyone goes through life with nothing but happiness? Even the sultans, who supposedly lived in golden palaces, didn’t have it all.”

Valentin nodded slowly, understanding her point. Not even the great rulers, who dined in gold goblets and silver plates and ruled vast lands, could escape life’s hardships.

“In life, you’ll have good days and bad. Some days you’ll trip and fall flat on your face. But you can’t just give up living. You stand up, dust yourself off, and keep going. Sure, sometimes you’ll be too tired, and you’ll plop down with an ‘Oh, my!’ But then you’ll meet good people, hold hands, and walk together again.”

“…”

“That’s life, isn’t it?”