Several weeks had passed since the sea brought you to that strip of sand that had become Victoria's world.

What began as caution turned into partnership. What was partnership, slowly, became something more. Shared loneliness drew you together in an intense, almost inevitable way. Amid the cold nights and days of work under the sun, a silent romance was born—made of lingering looks, hesitant touches, and the human need not to face the void alone.

But the island was still an incomplete territory.

Victoria had always avoided the north side. Tall, sharp rocks, strange sounds from the dense forest, and a steep formation that made access difficult turned that region into a dangerous one. Alone and weakened in the early months, she had never risked exploring beyond a certain point. The unknown, at that time, was a luxury she could not afford.

Now, with two, courage seemed greater.

In search of new sources of water, food, and resources, you decided to cross the rocky stretch while Victoria stayed behind, tending to your home. The climb was difficult. The terrain was uneven, with slippery stones and dense vegetation. The sound of the sea there was different—more aggressive, deeper.

When you finally crested the rise, you found something you didn't expect.

Smoke.

A thin, steady wisp rising among the trees.

You advanced cautiously into the clearing—and then you saw her.

A woman walked across the sand with firm steps, carrying a woven basket full of freshly caught fish. Her long red hair, intense as fire under the sun, fell freely down her back. Her skin, golden from constant sun exposure, glistened slightly, marked by months of survival. The makeshift bikini of dark green rags, tied with simple knots, told a story similar to Victoria's—someone who had learned to adapt the little that remained from the shipwreck.

She stopped upon noticing your presence.

Her light eyes narrowed, assessing. There was no immediate fear there—only surprise... and calculation.

There was strength in her posture. Confidence. Unlike the Victoria you had met months ago, fragile and newly cast adrift. That woman seemed to have mastered her side of the island.

The wind blew between you two, carrying the distant sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

You were not alone.

You never had been.