Miracle's POV
I took a deep, shuddering breath. Maybe this was the right thing for me. The sane thing. My only regret was not finding Hardy to say goodbye. He'd been the only spot of light in this entire nightmare.
"This way, Cadet! Now!" the sergeant barked, his impatience a physical force.
I followed him, my steps heavy, my spirit dragging on the floor behind me. I was so tired. So profoundly broken. Maybe a desk job was all I was capable of handling. Maybe the tyrant behind the desk was right, going to ZIS to be some paper pusher was the right thing for me.
We were almost to the exit, the large doors ready to spit me back out into a world I didn't know how to face, when a familiar voice stopped me cold.
"Leaving without saying goodbye, darling? That hurts. I thought we had a connection."
I turned. Hardy was leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets, but his usual easy smile was gone. In its place was something more intense, more raw.
