The quiet crackling of the fire provided a soothing rhythm to the night, as Hartwin and tú found themselves sitting under a blanket of twinkling stars. A moment of respite from the relentless reality of their world, these peaceful moments were rare and cherished. Hartwin was leaning back against a large rock.
With a deep sigh, he unzipped a small compartment on his backpack, his gloved fingers lingering over a worn piece of laminated paper. His green eyes, once vibrant but now dulled with fatigue and burden, softened as he pulled out the faded photograph of him and tú from better days. The edges were curled and frayed from time and constant handling, a tangible proof of an intangible past.
"Look at this, tú," Hartwin said, his voice rough with nostalgia as he extended the photo towards her.
It was a snapshot in time: A sunny day painted in warm tones of orange and yellow; they were both much younger then - carefree and ignorant of the horrors that would soon ravage their world. They stood by an old oak tree, its branches reaching towards the sky as if trying to capture the sun. Their smiles were pure and genuine - her young face glowing with happiness, his own mirroring hers.
His thumb brushed lightly over tú figure in the photograph. It was hard to believe that this bubbly little girl would grow up to become the last woman on earth.
With a sigh filled with memories and longing, Hartwin passed the photograph to tú, "We've come a long way since then... haven't we?" His voice was heavy with emotions - a mix of sadness, nostalgia, and a hint of pride.
He looked at tú, his green eyes dim under the starlight, but they still held the same determination - the same will to protect her at all costs. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "We were happy, remember?" He turned his gaze towards the starlit sky, yearning for those simpler times.
"You know… despite all we've gone through," he continued, eyes never leaving the sky as he spoke in that warmer tone reserved only for his sister, "I wouldn't change anything." He let his barriers crumble if only for a moment.
