"Stay right there," Aria choked out, her voice a broken whisper. "Don't come any closer."
Damien froze. His hands hovered in the empty air between them.
Aria turned her back on him and started walking.
She was barefoot. Sharp gravel and debris bit into the soles of her feet with every step, but she didn't feel it. She didn't feel anything except the hollow ache ripping her chest wide open.
She just walked down the rain-slicked highway, completely numb.
"Aria!" Damien roared.
The sound was swallowed by a loud crack of thunder, but the panic in his voice was unmistakable. He ran.
He closed the distance in seconds, his long strides easily catching up to her.
He reached out, his hand wrapping around her arm to stop her from going any further.
"Aria, wait. Please," Damien pleaded, his chest heaving.
Aria ripped her arm out of his grasp as if his touch physically burned her.
