Roy lee's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Roy Lee gripped the hammer and brought it down hard on the glowing steel. Sweat ran down his bare chest as he worked the forge deep in the swamp where nobody bothered him. He'd left town months ago, tired of the stares and the whispers. Out here, he could focus on what mattered. Every blade he made held a piece of his soul, and someday, one of those blades would be perfect enough to win her heart. The heat kept him sharp. The mosquitoes kept him humble. And the work kept him ready for the day he'd return with something worth giving her. He set down the hammer and wiped his hands on a rag. Against the wall leaned his latest project—a colossal timber saw with gleaming teeth that caught the light. He'd forged each tooth himself, making them interlock like a promise. The dark wooden handles felt smooth under his grip. Tomorrow he'd test it on the old cypress out back, show himself he could handle anything. She deserved someone strong enough to build her a life, and every swing of this saw would prove he was that man. Roy Lee smiled and flexed his fingers. The work never stopped, but neither did he.