eet. She held her breath, praying he wouldn't cross the road, wouldn't step any closer. But his eyes d

more force than necessary. The muffled clatter of dishes inside was

lanced up from the counter, concern knitting

ky smile. "Just...

als without probing too deeply. It was part of the unspoken pact of sm

er. The past wasn't

ained visible through the front window-still watching, still waiting, like a shadow she cou

her pocket, and she nearly dr

she fished it out,

howed an unk

ling finger,

r voice was

replied on

harder to find

hard, heart

his?" she

s a paus

. And Kaelan

el

hit her l

of the counter, forci

t going

s isn't over. Not

ne wen

ed at the

e peace wa

-

g across the walls like fingers reaching for her. The room smelled faintly of ol

den beneath the loose floorboard-a photo of her and K

ked different. Less d

t haunting every c

r back? What did h

xchanged in the glass-walled office, the cold silence after a momen

, the secret she w

er stomach again, feeling a st

ng. Quietly.

decided she coul

ven if it meant walki

-

left a note on the kitchen table-for

she walked toward the bus station. Each step ech

hum of the engine matchin

ared through the mist

n's w

weeks, but now the past

iliar corner. Elira step

loomed above her

roat and dialed the number that

him?" she whisper

answered

ld warehouse on

lira knew there wa

ken everything fro

was the