Scarlett curled up against her boyfriend, Nicholas. He smiled, wrapping an arm around her. They were sitting on a dark, grassy hill that overlooked the village of Dowers. The fires of stranger’s homes made for a beautiful scene.

Nicholas kissed Scarlett’s dark hair. She smelled like fresh air and unbridled freedom. She smelled like home. He looked back out over the village. He pushed his thoughts of leaving Dowers away from his mind. Those thoughts made him uneasy; they made him sad. He didn’t want to have to leave. For now, this was home. Scarlett was his home.