erika is a woman who maintains internal relationships…Ver more

“Cole, I’m hungry,” she said, even though she had eaten recently, “but I don’t have any money left to buy food.” Cole didn’t hesitate for a second. He pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket. “Here,” he said, handing it to her. “It’s all I have. It’ll buy some bread and maybe a little cheese.” Naya looked at the bag, knowing that those coins probably represented all that Cole had earned in a week of hard work.

“I can’t accept this,” she said, pushing the bag back. “It’s all your money.” “Money can be earned again,” Cole replied with a smile. “But true friendship is irreplaceable. Besides, what kind of man would I be if I let you go hungry when I had something to share?” Naya felt her heart swell with emotion.

She had tested Cole, and he had passed the test with flying colors. “You’re a special person, Cole,” she said, her voice trembling. “And so are you, Naya. That’s why I’m helping you, not because I expect anything in return, but because—” She paused, searching for the right words. “Because when I look at you, I see someone who deserves all the kindness in the world.”

The days turned into weeks. Cole continued working wherever he could and always shared his earnings with Naya. He brought her wildflowers he found in the fields, told her stories by the fire, and protected her from the cruel stares and comments of the villagers. One cold morning, Naya woke up shivering. The shelter was good, but it didn’t have enough blankets for the nighttime desert chill.

When Cole arrived and saw her shivering, he immediately took off his jacket, the only one he owned, and wrapped it around her. “Cole, you’re going to be cold,” Naya protested. “I can handle the cold just fine,” Cole lied, though he was already beginning to feel the icy wind penetrate his thin shirt. “Besides, this jacket looks better on you.”

That afternoon, while Cole was working in the nearby field, Naya noticed he was trembling, but he refused to ask for his jacket back. His skin had turned pale, his lips almost blue, but he carried on working without complaint. She couldn’t bear it any longer. She ran to him and returned the jacket. “Please, put it on,” she begged. “I can’t bear to see you suffer because of me.”

Col looked at her tenderly. “Naya, you don’t understand. I’d suffer a thousand colds before seeing you cold for even one night. That’s what it means to care for someone.” At that moment, under the setting sun that painted the sky purple and gold, Naya knew with absolute certainty that she had found what she was looking for.