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~Richard's POV
I'd followed her from the moment she stepped out of the house. Kept my distance, careful to stay in the shadows where she couldn't see me. Watching her move through the market, the way she reached for the fresh vegetables, the small smile she gave a vendor, it broke something inside me. How long had I been gone? How much had I missed? I swallowed hard, the knot in my throat tightening. I wanted to call out, to run to her, but the guilt held me frozen.
When she glanced over her shoulder, her eyes searching, I ducked behind a stall, heart pounding like a drum. The sight of her was both a blessing and a curse. I wanted to explain, to tell her everything, but I wasn't sure she wanted to hear me.
After she finished buying her groceries, I found a moment to step forward. My hands trembled as I caught up to her. She didn't look happy to see me, her face was guarded, tired, and filled with a pain I had caused.
