The air outside was warm but not too hot, a soft breeze brushing my cheeks. The neighborhood was quiet. As we walked, I kept thinking about the swan—how big it might be, whether it would honk like a goose or stay silent and elegant.
The park came into view quicker than I expected. Green stretched out in front of us, the pond glinting in the sunlight. I could already see ducks clustered near the water’s edge, waddling and bobbing their heads.
My chest filled with a happy little buzz.
“I’m really glad we came,” I said.
Aarev smiled down at me. “I thought you might be.”
We sat on a wooden bench near the edge of the pond, theboards warm from the sun. I set the bag of bread between my feet and carefully tore off a small piece.
Almost immediately, a little brown duck waddled toward us, its head bobbing with each step. It stopped a few feet away and tilted its head, one shiny eye fixed on me.
“Oh,” I breathed, delighted. “Hi. Are you hungry?”
I tossed the bread over gently, and it snapped it up with surprising speed. I laughed, the sound slipping out before I could stop it. Another duck joined it, then another, the water rippling as they paddled closer.
Aarev watched me with an easy smile. “You look happy.”
“I am,” I said honestly, tearing another piece. “They’re so cute.”
“They are,” he agreed, chuckling. “And apparently very hungry.”
Then I saw it.
Near the far side of the pond, gliding slowly through the water like it didn’t even have to try, was the swan.
It was even bigger than I’d imagined—brilliant white, its neck curved in a graceful S as it cut through the water. Sunlight shimmered on its feathers, making it look almost unreal.
My breath caught. “Oh my gosh,” I whispered. “It’s beautiful. Look, Aarev!”
Aarev glanced over. “It looks like it’s coming over here.”
I stood without really thinking about it, stepping closer to the edge of the pond, bread forgotten in my hand. The swan lifted its head slightly, unbothered and regal.
“Wow,” I whispered, smiling at the gorgeous bird and hugging my arms around myself as I watched it drift past.
After a moment, I went back to the bench. I was already imagining bringing Daddy here.
It was quiet for a few minutes as I basked in the warm breeze and watched the water.
“You know… You could do things like this more often. Get out of the house. Have days like this.”
“I do go out,” I said softly.
“I mean, on your own,” he clarified gently. “Or with friends. You don’t need him to do everything.”
I shifted my weight, the smile on my face fading just a little. “I’m… not really comfortable by myself yet.”
“That’s understandable,” he said, but there was something probing in his tone. “Still, it might be good for you.”
I looked back at the bench, then at the ducks crowding near my feet. “It’s just been hard,” I admitted. “Adjusting. Everything outside the Covenant still feels… too loud, too open. It’s all so much.” I swallowed, then released a long breath out. “Home feels safer right now.”
Aarev studied me for a second. “I guess I get that. Especially with everything in the news.”
My shoulders stiffened.
“The press has been relentless,” he went on. “Your father, the case—it’s everywhere. That kind of attention can be overwhelming.”
