Alice clung to him, her grip tight, fingers digging into his back as her emotions poured out unchecked. Her sobs shook her, each one a raw release of the hurt she'd buried. The hall's cool air seemed to grow heavier, the weight of her grief filling the space. Minutes stretched, feeling like hours, until her breathing steadied, her tears slowing to a trickle. She pulled back, eyes red but resolute, wiping her face with a trembling hand, her composure fighting to return.
"Do you hate me?" Aaron asked, voice low, searching her eyes for the truth, his own gaze steady but vulnerable for a fleeting moment.
"No," Alice said, voice soft but honest, her eyes meeting his despite the pain. "Just need time to deal. But no hate." Her words were clear, unwavering, and Aaron nodded, expecting that but needing to hear it, the knot in his chest loosening slightly.
"Maybe a new world helps," he said, voice gentle, offering a way forward. "Clear your head, find yourself again."
