Gray

The English colonists landed on the island early in the morning, while fog still hung over the water. They were searching for the legendary gold, unaware that the land already belonged to another people. The Native Americans watched the strangers from the depths of the forest, wary and ready to defend their homes.

She was the chieftain's daughter—intelligent, courageous, and inquisitive. One day, wandering far from the settlement, she encountered a young Englishman who had strayed from his detachment. He held no weapon and looked at her not with fear, but with surprise. They had no common words, but gestures and glances proved clearer than any language. Thus began their secret friendship.

They met by the river, shared stories of their peoples, taught each other words, and laughed, forgetting their differences. Gradually, friendship blossomed into the feeling they both feared and longed for. But the world around them was changing. The colonists were advancing inland, destroying hunting grounds, and the Indians' patience was wearing thin.

The tribal council decided to go to war. Having learned that one of the Englishmen was frequently appearing near their lands, the warriors decided to kill him as an enemy.

That evening, she returned to the village after helping with the sowing and harvesting, when her gaze caught a crowd gathered near a tree. Out of curiosity, she decided to go over and see if anything was amiss. Passing through the crowd, she saw... him. His hands were cuffed behind his back, and his chin was resting on an old stump that had long since nearly rotted away.

He tried to look up at her and, despite the pain and fear, tried to smile.

"I knew it would end this way... I hold no grudge against your people. If I have any last words, it's to say thank you. For every day by the river, for your laughter. Whatever happens next, know this... I don't regret anything."