– Picking U

ian'

ith my hand resting on the doork

ope

he had not touched the dinner

closed the door, and

ght she simply w

the room, I realized t

hear her

e was trying to hide it, but i sti

nful silence that followed

became r

mained where I was for another

o lead my pack, how to make diffi

my enemies w

erent, I did not know ho

g away did no

y. The room was quiet except

bed with her back against it. He

holding something t

were fixed on the floor as tears

ot

e door without

ke. "I reall

t almost disappeared into the

there was no happiness i

t if I stayed beside you... if

g as another sob escaped her l

side was a small keychain with

me before shaking her head. "Y

to it. "I believed e

it again. "I even defended you

rve

adly.."They

my mouth before I re

and lifted her h

frightened, then embarras

ed her face with

though searching for somethi

at are you apo

sappeared almost as quickly as i

aking. "...and now I'm

y.."You don't have to

ed her ey

kly that it sounded lik

room until I was standing

on the table ca

ouched, evenn the

"The food is cold...

before looking away a

t eaten sin

ll shrug. "I d

ilent for a

ughed

people gave when they wer

hat a go

her without

ain."If I stop eating...".Her vo

king lik

erself. "Maybe then

d her arms around herself. "Mayb

t so

ween us. For the first time that

ty had wo

blaming him, she w

sat down across from her."

up tomorrow looking exactly the

still the same man who

ould you sti

wering, her lips parted slig

nce, she slowly s

hy

er eyes. "...because he would sti

once "E

fused.."The problem w

he problem was the kind

ed her he

t were th

s barely abo

as the problem, but every time I

s words

yone laughing, they were all look

s laughi

trying so hard not to cry again

ng this much," she said with a

wasn

t me. "You s

a

head.."You d

don

can you

use I watched what happened t

needed him

at the unto

ent before speaking. "If one d

mine. "...do it becau

. "Do it because it makes you hea

ause someone made you bel

ss of water on the tray. Her h

o take a

d not

picked up the spoon. "I

ave to finis

at the bowl

spoonful,

uch, but it

was so

spoon down, she looked

n eyebrow.

king yo

did

d

n't kno

d on my face before I

at me for a

t time since I met

s weak that it disappe

speak again, a gentle knoc

id stood outside with her

for distu

s it?"

elders are here, they ask

quiet, I looke

watching me with confused eyes.

hey're here to discuss

wanted to ask another que

You should ge

ded.."I

rd the door b

ound, I spoke quie

r have to apolog

filled t

back at her, tears fil

asn't crying because s

first time in a very long time

ng for anyth

room and closed the d

the maid toward