Marianne walked briskly along the narrow cobblestone path leading to the church, the evening air nipping at her cheeks. She clutched her shawl tightly around her shoulders, the warm glow of the church’s stained-glass windows beckoning her forward. It had been a long day, and she found solace in these quiet moments before the late-night vigil.
The familiar sound of bells chiming softly in the tower above brought a small smile to her lips. The church was her sanctuary, a place where the worries of the world faded away under the soft flicker of candlelight and the comforting cadence of whispered prayers.