"We have come to a decision," I found Yuri saying this morning to the leaders of the village. He had brought Angelo, Daniel, Lawrence, and I with him to hear this. We are not going to be staying. It breaks my heart in more ways than one. I love this place and its people, however we must finish our duty to our countries. This, I cannot argue with. We will finish our mission and come back to the village after it is complete.

  Maria hugged me when she saw me, "I'm very happy for you."

  "Why?" I couldn't help but ask. There was nothing to be happy about. I didn't even really want to do this mission in the first place.

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  "You are going to finish this. You're very brave. I would have never. But, you are going to finish this and come back to me. You are doing what you need to do and leaving despite what you are tied to here," she told me.

  I hugged her close for a while. I wanted nothing more than to stay with her, but sometimes, duty calls. I cannot avoid it, so I must embrace it. We began packing some of the things that we had laid out in the days prior. I found another book and began to read it to them. We all sat by the fire and enjoyed the warmth while we still had it. I must savour these moments with Maria. They might be our last.