Chapter 1955

The summer night breeze was cool and refreshing. I walked ahead while Hector followed closely behind me. At this hour, the villagers had already gone to rest, leaving just the two of us on the narrow path. He maintained a steady distance of about three feet away—not too far or close—almost like a personal bodyguard. I needed to find a way to send him off. But no matter what I did, I couldn't shake him off. Eventually, I stopped and turned to face him. Hector halted as well. He hesitated, then stepped back, as if realizing he'd been standing too close. He was tall—at least two heads taller than me—and alarmingly thin. He looked like he hadn't eaten in days. "Are you hungry?" I asked. He nodded. "I'll get you something to eat." Hector blinked as if surprised. The crops were in season—watermelons were ripe in the fields, and corn was ready for picking. I ran to a neighbor's farm, took a watermelon, grabbed two ears of corn, and handed them to him. He ate quickly but gracefull