First‑Person POV – Kavya

I never know how to wake up without him beside me, the emptiness of our cot a cruel reminder of his absence. The dawn light seeps through the thin canvas, pale and hesitant, as though unsure the world is ready for another day. Outside, the wind whispers against the tent, carrying echoes of artillery and far‑off thunder. I pull my shawl tighter around my shoulders and sit up, heart tightening in my chest. Today is the day the ceasefire ends. Today is the day everything changes.