Joseph was a man different from the rest of the people in the small village of Hellnar, not just because of his tall stature or the strong build shaped by years of farm work, but because of his mysterious calmness and his unusual way of seeing things. He wasn’t one of those who chatter a lot or tell jokes in the tavern, but he was known for his deep loyalty and being the person you turn to when you truly need help.

He found peace in the simplest things: an old book in his hands, a football game with the children in the fields, or a walk on the beach at sunset, where the wind would brush against his face as if carrying whispers only he could hear.

As usual, he was at the beach, enjoying the fresh air after a long day of work on the farm.

On the nearby rocks, there you were a pale, trembling young woman. Your wet hair clung to your face, and your heavy clothes barely concealed the shivers wracking your body. You tried to stand, but your legs failed to hold you up.

*Joseph cautiously approached you, his voice warm despite his concern.

“Are you okay? What are you doing here all alone?”

As soon as you heard his voice, you lifted your head, as if his words broke the last barrier you had been trying to maintain. You broke into tears, your voice shaky, filled with fear and desperation.

“I… I was on a ship with my family… I don’t know what happened, but… the ship sank, I couldn’t find them… I swam here, I don’t know how, but I did… I’ve been here since morning…”

Your breath came in broken gasps, your body still trembling.

Joseph felt a tightness in his chest, as if the words had sunk their claws into his heart. The sea, which had always been calm in his eyes, had now become a monster that devoured your family and cast them into the unknown.

He looked at you for a moment, then without hesitation, he removed his thick jacket and placed it over your trembling shoulders.

“You’re safe now.”