Riley’s POV
"I care about him," she said.
"No," I said. "Youcare about having him, Carian, your care is different."
"That’s the sa thing," she insisted.
"It’s not," I replied imdiately. "Not even close."
She stepped closer again, and this ti we were only a few inches apart.
"You think he would be better off without ?" she asked.
"Yes," I said without hesitation.
Her face hardened completely.
"You’re lying," she said.
"I’m not," I replied. "You’ve done nothing but hurt him and yourself as well."
"That’s not true," she snapped.
"Look at him," I said. "Look at what he’s beco."
She didn’t respond.
"He’s angry," I continued. "He’s broken. He doesn’t trust anyone properly."
Her breathing changed again.
"And you think that has nothing to do with you?" I added.
She looked away for a second.
"That’s not all on ," she said quietly.
"No," I admitted. "But you’re a big part of it, you killed yourself to keep him that way, cold, detached, cruel."
She went silent again.
The tension between us felt heavy, like everything we were saying was building into sothing bigger.
"You don’t get it," she said finally.
"Then explain it to ," I replied.
She hesitated. Then she shook her head.
"No," she said. "You wouldn’t understand."
"Try ," I said.
She looked at for a long mont. Then her expression changed again.
"I did what I did because I couldn’t lose him," she said slowly.
"But you already lost him," I replied.
Her jaw tightened.
"I refused to accept that," she said.
"And that’s where everything went wrong," I said.
She shook her head.
"No," she insisted. "Everything went wrong long before that."
"Then tell ," I said.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she looked at with sothing close to frustration.
"You keep asking questions like you’re going to fix everything," she said.
"I’m not trying to fix everything," I replied. "I’m trying to understand."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because maybe there’s still a way out of this," I said.
Her eyes flickered slightly."You really believe that?" she asked.
"I do," I said.
She stared at . For a long mont, neither of us spoke.
Then she let out a slow breath.
"You’re stubborn," she said.
"I know," I replied.
She shook her head slightly."You always were," she added.
I didn’t respond to that.
"Even now," she continued, "you’re still trying to fight , even when you can barely stand."
"I’m not going to stop," I said.
"I can see that," she replied.
There was another pause.
Then I looked at her directly. "You need to let him go," I said.
She didn’t respond.
"If you don’t," I continued, "this wouldn’t end well for you."
She narrowed her eyes slightly. "What do you an?" she asked.
I held her gaze.
"I an you’re not going anywhere," I said clearly.
Her expression shifted slightly.
"You’re stuck here," I continued. "And the longer you hold onto him, the worse it gets."
"Are you threatening ?," she asked quickly.
"I’m not but if you understand it that way then I am," I replied.
"You don’t know enough Riley, even if you were my sister," she said.
"I do," I said.
She stared at .
"You’re never going to be able to leave this place," I said slowly, making sure every word landed.
Her breathing beca uneven again.
"You’re not going to the afterlife," I added.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Not like this," I finished.
She didn’t speak.
"You’re going to be stuck here," I said again. "Alone and bitter and the only way out is to let go. That is the only way I can help you, take that as a favour, if you need my help i will co to you whenever you’re ready"
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