They say that in your final moments, time becomes honey—thick, golden, and slow.
But that's a lie.
Time becomes a blade.
It cuts each second into pieces so sharp they draw blood from memory itself.
I knew we were going to die the moment I saw the smoke—
It was all over now...
It wasn't the white, gentle smoke that rose from our morning bread.
This was black poison, clawing at the sky like desperate fingers.
And in that moment, with flour still dusting my hands, I understood what love truly meant.
Love means—who you'd die protecting.
> "Take Mira, hide her in the root cellar," Garrett had said.
His voice was like stone, but a stone with cracks in it.
My beautiful, brave Garrett—
The boy who carved wooden horses and thought he could shield the world with his bare hands.
I wanted to tell him no.
To grab his face and say—
"Run with us. Just this once, be a little selfish."
But I could only nod.
Because love isn't just the sweet moments by the fire.
Love means—letting the person you'd die for make choices that might kill them.
Was this my love?
> "You two—Mira and you—go to Uncle Joren's house right now. Do not look back. I will bring your parents."
My parents.
They were in Ashford's fields—where the smoke was rising.
> "Trust me," he said.
And I did.
I trusted him.
But a bad feeling was building inside me.
Mira's small hand was ice-cold in mine as we ran.
Her legs stumbled on stones and roots.
I could have carried her—
But something inside me said:
> "You'll have to run so far your arms will tire. But your legs must not stop."
> "Elena... where are we going?" she asked, panting.
Her voice was small... and frightened.
> "To safety," I lied.
Safety?
That was just a thought now.
There was only the hope that somewhere, there might be a corner the flames hadn't found.
Uncle Joren's house was at the edge of the village.
Half-hidden by oak trees.
If there was anywhere to hide—that was it.
But…
As we ran through the forest, I heard something.
A sound—
Like horses' hooves striking stone.
They were behind us.
The commander hadn't let anyone escape.
He had sent riders.
Why was the commander doing this?
What did he gain from taking innocent lives?
> "Elena, I'm scared…"
I could hear them now.
Three riders.
Maybe four.
We were being hunted.
If they reached Uncle Joren's house…
Then Mira too...
But then I heard a voice, it was that accursed commander's—
> "Go get that tall girl. Do whatever you want with the little one, but don't you dare lay a hand on the tall one."
No.
That meant if we were caught, anything could happen to Mira.
I had to do something.
> "Mira," I said, pulling her behind a massive oak. "Look there. The chimney smoke? Run straight for it. And never look back."
She nodded, tears streaming down her face.
> "I'll meet you there," I lied.
"Tell Uncle Joren to hide you in the root cellar—the deep one where he keeps the winter potatoes. And tell him to hide himself too."
> "But... what about you?"
> "I'm going to lead them away from you."
I kissed her forehead.
Memorizing the scent of her hair.
She was Garrett's sister.
The same light was in her eyes.
> "Run, Mira. Run."
And as her small form vanished into the darkness,
I stepped out from behind the tree, deliberately snapping branches, making noise—
> "Over here! I'm here!"
The voices changed direction.
The horses thundered toward me.
Good.
They were following me now.
When they caught me and threw me to the ground, I saw the soldier's face.
He was young—maybe Garrett's age.
But there was no life in his eyes.
> "Found one."
"The commander will be pleased."
"No, I just wanted this one. Forget the little one for now. There are still many trying to escape, go after them."
Hearing this, I felt a little happy.
And as they threw me across a saddle, I... smiled.
Mira was safe.
She had survived this night.
And that was enough.
They dragged me back.
To the village—
Where there was only smoke and death.
Garrett...
He was fighting.
Three of them at once.
His bow broken.
Blood on his face.
But his eyes—
They were fire.
He was fighting like an animal.
Beautiful. Primal.
He killed one.
Then another.
I wanted to scream his name...
But then...
There were too many.
Soldiers. In black armor.
He was surrounded.
I was thrown to the ground.
And in that moment, I felt a strange peace.
Mira was safe.
I had won.
She got a chance that we never would.
But Garrett was still fighting.
He was fighting, but then he too fell.
The soldiers were about to kill him, and I got up to run to him, but—
A voice from behind came.
> "Stop. Don't kill him. Tie his hands and make him kneel."
Garrett was on his knees a little ways from me.
His hands were tied.
Blood matted his hair.
But his eyes—
They were still burning.
> "Where are the others?" the Commander asked.
"Just me," Garrett lied.
The Commander laughed and said,
> "What a boy. Your lover is right here, and you say you're alone. I expected you to be as smart as you are good at fighting."
I wanted to tell him:
Mira is alive. Your lie has now become the truth.
Then he pulled me forward and forced me to my knees next to Garrett.
> "Elena, no," Garrett said. "Why are you here?"
"I couldn't leave you."
"Why did you come back?"
Why did I come back?
Because you don't get to be the only one who can die for someone.
> "I love you."
"I will always love you."
The Commander laughed.
It was a sound like breaking glass.
> "Let's find out—how much you love her."
And then...
I fought.
With my nails.
With my anger.
With the strength of Garrett's love.
They wanted to break me.
I kept looking into their eyes.
I kept smiling.
Because Garrett was watching.
And I had to show him—
His love doesn't make me weak. It makes me strong.
And when the sword came to my throat, I wasn't in fear.
I was thinking about the morning.
Bread.
Honey cakes.
The toys Garrett made with his hands.
> "Any last words?" the Commander asked.
I looked at Garrett.
> "This is not your fault," I said. "Do you hear me? This is not your fault."
"I love you soo—"
And then—
The sword.
It was cold.
But love—
It was warm.
They say in your final moments, your life flashes before your eyes.
That didn't happen to me.
I looked forward instead.
I saw Mira—
Grown and strong.
With Garrett's eyes.
I saw Garrett—
The man he would become.
The vengeance he would bring.
I felt proud.
Love doesn't end when the heart stops.
Love... becomes something else.
Love—
Becomes vengeance.
And sometimes—protection.
In Uncle Joren's house,
A little girl was waiting for dawn.
And that was the reason—
I chose to die.
Some loves are worth the sacrifice.
But what about my love, the one I had for Garrett?
> "In the last moment... I saw Garrett still fighting—he stood up once again."