"Should we plant one too?" Alina asked, looking up at Dante as he came to stand beside her.
He nodded.
She picked up a small sapling from the basket nearby and held it out to him. He took it, turning it over in his hands, examining the tiny roots wrapped in soil.
"Here," she said, kneeling down. "We'll put it here."
Dante knelt beside her, which was not something he did often. His dark trousers were already getting dirty, but he didn't seem to notice or care.
Alina dug a small hole with her hands. The soil was cool and soft. Dante watched her for a moment, then reached over and helped, his larger hands moving the dirt aside.
They worked quietly, not saying much. It was comfortable. Easy.
When the hole was deep enough, Alina took the sapling from him and placed it gently inside. She held it straight while Dante pushed the soil back around it.
"There," she said, patting the earth down.
Dante copied her, pressing the soil with his palms.
