Elara couldn't breathe.
Not properly.
Not enough.
Each breath came shallow—
too fast—
like her body had forgotten how to slow down.
Her heart was worse.
It didn't beat.
It slammed.
Hard.
Irregular.
Loud enough that she could hear it—
feel it—
like it was trying to break out of her chest.
"I don't want to do this."
The words came out in a whisper.
Fragile.
Barely there.
But Liam heard them.
Of course he did.
He always did.
"I know."
His voice was soft.
Too soft.
That almost broke her.
Because he wasn't arguing.
He wasn't trying to stop her.
He wasn't even hesitating.
And that—
that hurt more than anything else.
"Then don't ask me to," she said.
Her voice shook.
She didn't look at him.
Couldn't.
Because if she did—
she would change her mind.
"I'm not asking you to," Liam replied.
A pause.
"I'm telling you what happens if you don't."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"That's not fair."
Her voice rose—
just slightly—
just enough to crack.
"It's not supposed to be."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Elara pressed her hand against her chest.
As if she could slow her heart down.
As if she could hold everything inside—
and stop it from collapsing.
"I don't know how to do this," she said.
And this time—
she meant it.
Not the decision.
The moment.
The act.
The ending.
Liam stepped closer.
Careful.
Slow.
Like every step mattered.
Like he knew—
this was the last time he would be able to.
"You don't have to know," he said.
Her breath shook.
"Then how—"
"You just have to choose."
That word again.
Choose.
Her vision blurred.
Not from confusion.
From tears.
They came too fast now.
Too many.
She couldn't stop them.
Didn't even try.
"I hate this," she whispered.
Her voice breaking completely.
"I hate that it's me."
Liam didn't respond.
Because there was nothing to say.
Because there never had been.
Elara finally looked at him.
And that was her mistake.
Because the moment she did—
everything came back.
Not memories.
Moments.
Small.
Quiet.
The first time he smiled at her—
not because he had to—
but because he wanted to.
The way he said her name—
like it meant something.
Like she meant something.
The way he stood just a little closer than necessary—
but never crossed the line.
The way he always stayed.
Always.
Even when she pushed.
Even when she walked away.
Even when she chose—
something else.
Her breath broke.
"No…"
A sob escaped.
Sharp.
Uncontrolled.
"I remember—"
Her voice shook violently now.
"I remember everything."
Liam didn't move.
Didn't speak.
He just listened.
And that—
made it worse.
"Every time I thought I was helping—"
Her hands trembled.
Her body shaking now.
"I was choosing who didn't get to stay."
Her chest felt tight.
Too tight.
Like something was closing in.
Like she didn't have enough space—
enough air—
enough time—
"I didn't even realize—"
Her voice broke again.
Tears falling faster.
"I didn't even realize I was doing it."
Silence.
Then—
Liam spoke.
Soft.
Careful.
"You do now."
That was it.
That was the moment.
Elara felt something inside her—
snap.
Not violently.
Not loudly.
But completely.
She stepped back.
Just a little.
But enough.
Enough to create distance.
Enough to breathe—
just once—
without him.
Her hands shook.
Her heart still racing.
Her vision still blurred.
But her voice—
steady.
Barely.
"I can't let it keep happening."
Liam nodded.
He didn't argue.
Of course he didn't.
"Then don't."
Her breath hitched.
Tears still falling.
"I don't want to lose you."
That was the truth.
The only truth.
The one she couldn't hide.
Liam smiled.
Soft.
Faint.
Real.
"You already have."
Her heart stopped.
Not fully.
But enough.
Enough to hurt.
Enough to break.
Elara shook her head.
"No."
But her voice—
had no strength left.
Because she knew.
Somewhere—
deep down—
she knew.
She stepped forward again.
Close now.
Closer than before.
Her hand lifted—
slow—
hesitant—
then stopped.
Right before touching him.
Because she was afraid—
that if she did—
he wouldn't be there.
Her breath trembled.
"I don't know how to let you go."
Her voice barely a whisper.
Liam looked at her.
Not sad.
Not afraid.
Just—
gentle.
"You don't have to know," he said.
A pause.
"You just have to do it."
Tears blurred everything now.
Her chest hurt.
Her hands shook harder.
Her entire body—
refusing.
Fighting.
Breaking.
But she knew.
She knew.
This was the only way.
Her voice trembled.
"I'm sorry."
Not to him.
Not just to him.
To all of them.
To every choice.
To every moment.
To herself.
Her hand moved.
Forward.
Through him.
And just like that—
he was gone.