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Her chin trembled, tears aching to fall.

It felt like the world was stacked against them.

And no matter how bad they fought. No matter how much they fit together in all the best and worst ways, it seemed like they were destined to crumble and fall apart.

Because he was saddled with the same capacity for self-destruction that shaped her.

She sniffed, struggling to contain her emotions, unable to meet Takeshi’s gaze. He looked past her shoulder, not able to quite look at her either.

“I didn’t want to end like this,” she whispered, her body held taut, summoning all the willpower left within her to stay strong.

Because that’s what was important. What wasneeded.

But she wished she didn’thaveto be strong.

Sometimes…it would be nice to be weak.

“I didn’t either,” he admitted in a low voice.

It felt like an entire book wouldn’t be able to encapsulate their relationship. The anger, the yearning, the angst, the respect, the pain in letting go.

He lived in a million phrases.

But all she ever wanted to hear was one.

Silence stretched between them, and she was about to ask one last question when the lights suddenly shut off, plunging them into complete darkness.

“We should get some sleep.” He ran a hand through his black locks. “Big day tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” she replied absentmindedly at the reminder, completely numb.

They lay down on opposite sides of the cell. Worlds apart. Her hands folded beneath her, and she stared at the wall, wishing she could rewind time.

“Takeshi?”

“Yeah, Kanes?” His deep voice stroked against her skin.

“I just want you to know that what I said before wasn’t true. I know you have a heart.”

“Kanes, you don’t have to—”

“No, I do,” she interrupted, needing him to understand. Khalani wouldn’t find closure unless she spoke her truth. “Iknowyou have the biggest heart, because in another story, I would’ve wanted you to be my ending.”

Takeshi didn’t speak for the longest time.

The old Khalani would’ve regretted those words the moment they left her mouth, but she didn’t.

Her feelings reminded her that she was still human.

And like a candle flickering in the dark, Takeshi let his bleeding heart spill on the floor next to hers.

“In another story, you would’ve been my beginning.”

23

Release me from myself.

Khalani dreamt of warmth brushing against her skin, the kind of heat that embraces you after a trying day.