Ethan:
Morning came quietly.
Too quietly for a day that was meant to end in blood.
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I woke before the sun fully rose.
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For a few seconds, I didn't move.
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Because she was there.
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Yuna lay beside me, still asleep, her breathing slow and steady, her face softer than I had seen it in days. The tension, the anger, the stubborn fire—it was all gone for now.
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She looked… peaceful.
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My gaze lingered on her longer than it should have.
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Because I knew—
Once she woke up—
Everything would start again.
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The fight.
The arguments.
The distance.
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So I stayed still for a moment.
Just watching.
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Then I forced myself to move.
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Carefully, quietly, I got out of bed, making sure not to wake her. The room was still dim, the early light just beginning to slip through the curtains.
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I walked into the dressing room.
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The moment the door closed behind me—
Everything changed.
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No more hesitation.
No more softness.
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I changed into black.
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A fitted shirt. Dark trousers. The jacket that carried weight—not just in fabric, but in what it meant. Clean. Sharp. Controlled.
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The man in the mirror wasn't the one who had been beside her moments ago.
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He was the one who would walk into a battlefield.
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I adjusted my cuffs, my expression settling into something colder.
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Focused.
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Today—
It ends.
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I stepped out of the dressing room again.
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And there she was.
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Still on the bed.
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Still unaware.
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For a moment—
I let myself look at her again.
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Then I walked closer.
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Slowly.
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Carefully.
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I leaned down slightly—
And pressed a soft kiss to her head.
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It wasn't planned.
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It just—
Happened.
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And that's what woke her.
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Her eyes fluttered open, blinking slightly as she adjusted to the light.
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"Ethan…?" her voice was soft, still heavy with sleep.
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She pushed herself up slightly, her gaze landing on me.
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And then—
She froze.
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Because she saw it.
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The clothes.
The look.
The difference.
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"You're leaving," she said.
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Not a question.
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A realization.
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I didn't answer.
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Didn't move.
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Her expression changed.
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"…You're going to fight Viktor," she added quietly.
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Still—
I didn't respond.
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Because if I did—
She would push.
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And I didn't have time for that.
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I turned slightly, reaching for my watch, fastening it around my wrist.
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Behind me—
The bed shifted.
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"You are, aren't you?" she said again, louder this time.
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I exhaled slowly.
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"Stay here," I said.
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That was my answer.
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Her breath hitched slightly.
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"No."
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I closed my eyes for a brief second.
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Of course.
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"I'm coming with you."
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I turned to face her.
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"No, you're not."
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Her brows furrowed immediately.
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"Ethan—"
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"It's not happening."
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My tone was firm.
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Final.
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But she didn't back down.
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"You said you don't want me to stay behind, you said I should understand—so let me come," she said, her voice rising slightly.
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"This isn't something you understand," I replied.
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"I can learn—"
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"No."
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I cut her off.
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Sharp.
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The room went quiet for a second.
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Her eyes widened slightly.
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Because of my tone.
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Because of how quickly I shut her down.
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"It's dangerous," I continued, calmer but no less firm. "More dangerous than before."
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"I don't care," she said immediately.
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"I do."
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That stopped her.
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Just for a second.
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I stepped closer.
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"Before was already a mistake," I said. "You being there—shooting him—do you even understand what that means?"
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She didn't answer.
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Because she did.
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But she still shook her head slightly.
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"I'm not going to sit here and wait while you risk your life," she said.
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"You don't have a choice."
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Silence.
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Her jaw tightened.
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"You can't keep deciding everything for me," she said.
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"I can when it comes to this."
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Another pause.
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Tension building again.
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"I'm not weak, Ethan," she said, quieter now.
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"I know."
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"Then why—"
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"Because this isn't about strength."
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I stepped even closer now, my gaze locking onto hers.
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"It's about survival."
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Her breath caught slightly.
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"And right now," I added, "you staying here is the only way I can make sure you survive."
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She shook her head again.
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"No—"
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"I don't have time for this argument," I said, cutting her off again.
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Because I didn't.
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Because if I stayed longer—
I wouldn't leave.
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And I had to.
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I turned away, grabbing what I needed.
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"Ethan—"
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"Stay here."
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My voice was final.
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No room left.
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No space for negotiation.
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And even though I could feel her eyes on me—
Even though I knew she wasn't done—
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I walked toward the door anyway.
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Because protecting her—
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Meant leaving her behind.
My hand paused on the door handle.
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Just for a second.
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Because behind me—
She didn't move.
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She didn't shout this time.
Didn't argue again.
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That silence—
It pulled at me more than anything she had said.
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I tightened my grip on the handle, forcing myself not to turn around.
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"You're really leaving me here like this?" her voice came, softer now.
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Not angry.
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Just… hurt.
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I closed my eyes briefly.
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Because if I looked at her right now—
I knew exactly what I would see.
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And I couldn't afford that.
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"…Yes," I said.
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The word felt heavier than it should have.
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I heard the bed shift behind me.
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"You think I'll just listen?" she asked quietly.
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A small breath left me.
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"No," I admitted.
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That was the truth.
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"You never do."
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A faint pause.
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"Then why do you keep telling me to stay?" she asked.
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I didn't answer immediately.
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Because the answer wasn't simple.
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Because it wasn't something she would accept.
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"…Because I need you to," I said finally.
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Silence.
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I could feel her staring at me now.
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Trying to understand what I meant.
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Or maybe trying to find something more in my words.
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I turned slightly—not fully, just enough to look at her from the side.
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Her eyes were on me.
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Confused.
Hurt.
Stubborn.
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All at once.
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"You think I don't know you'll try to follow?" I continued.
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She didn't deny it.
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That was enough.
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"That's why you're staying here," I added.
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Her brows furrowed again.
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"You don't trust me," she said.
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"It's not about trust."
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"It is."
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I shook my head slightly.
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"It's about risk."
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"And I'm willing to take it."
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"I'm not."
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The words came out sharper than I intended.
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Because that was the truth I couldn't change.
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I stepped closer again, closing the distance between us one last time.
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"Listen to me carefully," I said, my voice lower now, steady. "This isn't a situation where you get to prove something."
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Her lips parted slightly.
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"You don't need to prove anything," I added.
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"But I do," she whispered.
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That—
That made something in my chest tighten.
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But I didn't let it show.
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"You staying alive is enough," I said.
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Her eyes softened for a second—
Then hardened again.
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"And what about you?" she asked. "Who makes sure you stay alive?"
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I held her gaze.
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"I do."
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A beat of silence.
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Neither of us convinced.
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But neither of us backing down.
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I stepped back again.
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Creating distance.
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Because staying any closer would only drag this out.
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And I couldn't afford that.
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"Don't leave this room," I said.
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My tone returned to that cold control again.
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"Ethan—"
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"Yuna."
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I cut her off once more.
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And this time—
She stopped.
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Not because she agreed.
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But because she saw it.
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The finality in my expression.
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The decision already made.
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I opened the door.
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The light from outside spilled in slightly.
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And for a second—
I looked back at her.
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Really looked.
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Like I was memorizing something.
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Then I turned away.
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And walked out.
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The door closed behind me.
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And this time—
I didn't stop.