I've traveled my entire life, searching for something to fill the inner emptiness. Since I was a child, I knew something was missing; nothing seemed to satisfy me, and I tried everything to feel whole.

It was then that I discovered I was always wrong; I didn't need anything to complete me; I just needed to accept myself. There was nothing wrong with me; there was just a world that didn't understand me.

Country music played on the radio, and a refreshing breeze wafted through the car window as it drove down the street. In the passenger seat, Aurora gazed at the passing landscape; she was still trying to absorb everything that had happened. After finalizing all the details of her identity change, Marlene, the mayor, continued to talk about the ranch.

"Well, since that part is taken care of, it will take about fifteen to twenty days for you to receive your new documents. Remember, this is a new life, so you'll have a clean resume except for the basics, not to mention that any other professional experience you've had will be gone under your new name." Marlene kept all the signed papers in an envelope.

"I understand that. I can take another degree online to catch up on what I've already done. That's not the problem. I've already decided and understood that this is a new life for me."

"I'm happy for you, and again, you're not alone in this. Your uncle, I, and probably Edward will be the only ones who know about your past."

"Edward?" Aurora asked, confused. She didn't remember anyone named Edward.

"Ah, that forgotten old man. Arthur Dalbart, my assistant, whom you spoke to at the reception. He was also a close friend of your aunt."

"Ah, I see. Is there anything else I need to do?"

"No, now you can relax and go to the ranch where you can finally rest. I'll give you my phone number so you can contact me whenever you need, and just talk to Arthur on the first floor, and he'll take you to the ranch." Marlene smiled broadly, a sense of accomplishment filling her.

"I don't want to bother you. I can take a bus or even a taxi."

"Nonsense, miss!" She waves her left hand, signaling that it's not a problem for her or Edward. "It's pretty quiet around here, and I can handle everything myself while he takes you to the ranch. Not to mention, he'll introduce you to the current manager."

She snaps back to reality as she looks at her side of the car, Edward, and his well-groomed mustache, driving. Smiling and humming the melody of the song, he doesn't take his eyes off the road, which offers no challenge. The buildings gradually become a rare sight, and nature reveals itself to be magnanimous and beautiful.

"Miss Aurora, don't worry about the details of the ranch. It's hard work, but you'll have help running it. The people who worked with your aunt are fantastic." His calm voice made her smile a little more relieved. It was too late to regret it now; her new identity would soon be official, and she needed to figure out how to move forward with a blank slate.

"I'll do my best to learn, I just hope that's enough."

"Don't worry so much, take it one day at a time, and you'll see that everything will work out if you just don't give up."

Their words were full of wisdom, but her fear wasn't easily overcome. For a long time, she doubted her abilities or problem-solving skills. She could never stick with a job, and her drawings never paid much. She was always highly praised for her art, but this didn't provide her with a living, which gradually undermined her self-esteem.

The sun, which had once shone brightly at the highest point in the sky, now slowly disappeared into the mountains, creating a breathtaking landscape. The sky turned orange, and the shadows of the trees seemed to dance as the icy breeze gently pushed their branches and leaves. After crossing the second wooden bridge that crossed one of the many rivers that meandered through the mountain valley, a large sign indicated the way to their destination, the Lasaitasuna ranch. Before leaving the town hall, she inquired about the ranch's unusual name. Marlene, too, was curious when she first heard the name, and on one of the many afternoons they had tea together, she asked Augusta about its origin.

"I was always a very diligent student in my school days, spending hours in the library. One day, I was looking for a book to satisfy my boredom; I had already finished all the homework my biology teacher had assigned us." Augusta laughed at that sweet memory she had. "It was then that I found a book about an ancient civilization, the Toyanes."

"Toyanes? Isn't that the ancient civilization where some miners discovered an underground city while digging a silver mine?" Marlene asked, remembering the news she'd seen in a newspaper.

"That's right, that's it. The book told of the discoveries of this civilization, and some words were deciphered. One of them was Lasaitasuna, which means Valley of Abundance. I liked the meaning so much that the word stuck in my mind. When I finally created my ranch, that was the first word that came to mind when I was about to name it." With a smile on her face, Augusta took another sip of tea before continuing the previous conversation.

"Lasaitasuna..." Aurora murmured. "Who knows..."

The car began to slow down after passing a wooden archway with a large sign carved into it that read: Welcome to Lasaitasuna Ranch. When the car finally stopped, Edward helped her pick up her only suitcase.

"Here we are, Miss Aurora, Lasaitasuna Ranch! One of the jewels of our town!" he said with pride in his voice.

Behind the large iron gates with spaced bars, a stone brick path leads to a grand house. The calm and quiet atmosphere is interrupted only by the sound of crickets and cicadas. A few stars were beginning to appear in the sky; it had been years since she'd seen such a starry and beautiful sky.

"Are you okay, miss?" Edward asked as he approached her.

"Yes, yes... I'm fine. Sorry, I was lost in thought and admiring this beautiful sky." She smiled awkwardly, embarrassed to be caught off guard by something so simple.

"Oh yes, ever since I was a child, I loved looking at the clear sky decorated with thousands of stars. What always makes me smile when I remember it was when my mother gave me a telescope. I spent almost every night observing the constellations and sometimes finding the planets visible on a perfect night." With each word, the smile on her face grew and shone with enthusiasm. Their brief conversation was interrupted by a jovial male voice.

"Edward! You old fox! What do we owe you for your visit?" The man, apparently twenty-eight, with a muscular build, stretched out his arms to hug Edward, who returned the gesture.

"Ah, young Athorio! No matter what time I see you, you always have such contagious energy." After a vigorous hug between the two, Edward turns to Aurora. "Young Athorio, this is Aurora, the new ranch manager, well, manager-in-training, of course, after all, she has no experience in this area."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Aurora. As our dear Edward already said, my name is Athorio, and I am the interim ranch manager. I wanted to say, before I seem disrespectful, that I am truly sorry for the loss of your Aunt Augusta. She was a wonderful person in the lives of everyone who works here, and we all miss her." He offers his hand for a handshake, unlike Edward, at 5 feet 7 inches. Athorio was much taller, reaching what could have been somewhere between 6 feet 5 and 7 inches.

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Athorio, and thank you for your condolences. Although I haven't had much contact with them in recent years due to problems, she was a very dear person to me, but from everything I've heard about her, I'm sure she loved this place and the people who worked with her very much." Athorio's firm hand impressed her; his calloused hands showed that he dedicated them greatly to his work.

"Well, I leave you in good hands, Miss Aurora. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope we can have other opportunities to talk and get to know each other better." Edward gives a slight bow before returning to his car and continuing toward town.

"May I help you with your suitcase, miss?" Athorio smiles, offering assistance. "I'd also like a quick tour of the ranch. I know it's nighttime, but we can see a few things."

"Of course, I'd love to, and there's no need; it's not too heavy." The two then follow the stone path as the iron gates close behind them.

The path is well-lit with decorated lampposts, some shaped like pumpkins and vegetables, others shaped like farm animals. Placed in pairs, they provide perfect illumination. The stone bricks are well-kept and aligned, demonstrating the care and attention the people have for this place. As they arrive at the entrance to the large masonry mansion, with large windows and ornate wooden doors, Athorio stops and begins to speak.

"This is the ranch's central mansion. Everything you could imagine related to the management of this place can be found here. On the first floor, we have the main hall where employees and visitors can sit comfortably in a calm and cozy atmosphere. There is also a dining room and a kitchen where food is served and prepared. At the appropriate times, everyone is welcome to enjoy the delicious food served by two excellent cooks. You'll meet them soon."

"On the second floor, you'll find Madame Augusta's room, the staff dormitory, the administration office, and the common goods store. Before we go in and see everything for ourselves, I'd just like to show you where the corrals, barns, greenhouse, and the first fields where we plant according to the season are located." He smiles, hoping for a positive response to continue the tour.

"Of course, of course. Please, I'm completely ignorant of anything rural, and it would be great to start learning." They summarize walking down the path.

Four barns share a vast expanse of open pasture where the animals can graze and run freely. Parallel to the pasture is the Greenhouse, a grand building with tempered glass walls and ceilings. Athorio explains very simply that the greenhouse is used to grow certain types of crops that are limited by season, but thanks to this building, they can always have a supply for the entire year. And finally, the corrals where the horses and other animals used for riding are kept. According to Athorio, this building can hold up to forty animals.

"For now, that's all I can show you. The other buildings and areas on the property are best visited during the day, as some areas aren't artificially lit to prevent damage to the plants and local fauna. Shall we return to the mansion?" She agrees, and with slow steps, they return to the entrance of the main building.

"I know I didn't show you much, but what do you think of the place?" Athorio asks with a hopeful tone.

"I'm impressed; the little I've seen has already left me speechless. As I've already spoken to Mr. Edward, I don't understand anything about farm work or my experience in administration, so I don't know if I'll be much use here." Athorio heard a hint of fear and great uncertainty in her voice.

"Miss, or rather, Aurora. No one is born knowing how to do something; everything we do in life is taught to us. If you're willing to learn and want to help here, we'll all help you, and I'm sure you'll do well here." Athorio's gentle smile brought her peace.

"What I mean is..." He grabs the doorknob to the mansion and opens it, smiling at her. "Welcome, miss, to Lasaitasuna Ranch."