Morning came too quickly.
It didn't feel like a new day.
It felt like an ending that had arrived without asking.
Kai barely slept.
Not because he tried to stay awake—
But because every time he closed his eyes, it felt like time was slipping faster.
The house was already moving when he got up.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Doors opening and closing.
Everything felt too loud.
Too normal.
His bags were by the door.
Waiting.
Kai stood there for a moment, just looking at them.
As if not moving might delay something.
It didn't.
His phone buzzed.
A message.
I'm outside.
He didn't reply.
He just grabbed his jacket and left.
Velithra stood by the same spot as last night.
The same streetlight.
But everything felt different now.
The air.
The silence.
The weight of the moment.
They didn't say anything at first.
Kai walked straight up to her.
Stopped just close enough.
This was it.
"Hey," he said softly.
Velithra smiled.
Small.
Steady.
"Hey."
There were so many things they could say.
So many things they had already said.
None of them felt right now.
Kai glanced down for a second.
Then back at her.
"I hate that this is happening."
Velithra didn't pretend otherwise.
"Me too."
Honest.
Simple.
A pause.
Then—
"I'll call," Kai said.
She nodded.
"I know."
"I'll text too."
"I know."
"I'll come back."
This time, her smile softened.
"I know."
They weren't promises.
Not really.
They were intentions.
Hopes.
Things to hold onto.
Kai let out a small breath.
"I don't know how to do this part."
Velithra stepped closer.
"You don't have to do it perfectly."
He looked at her.
"That doesn't sound like enough."
She reached for his hand.
"It is."
Another pause.
The kind that stretches just a little too long.
Kai swallowed slightly.
"I'm going to miss you."
Velithra's grip tightened just a little.
"I already do."
That almost broke him.
He pulled her into an embrace.
Tighter than before.
Not rushed.
Not panicked.
Just… holding on.
She pressed her face into his shoulder.
Breathing him in like she was trying to memorize it.
They stayed like that longer than they should have.
Long enough that the world started to move again around them.
Eventually—
They had to let go.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
Kai stepped back.
But not far.
Not yet.
Velithra looked at him.
Really looked.
Like she was saving the moment somewhere permanent.
"Go," she said softly.
He didn't move.
"Kai."
He nodded once.
This time—
He turned.
He didn't look back.
Not because he didn't want to—
Because if he did, he might not leave at all.
Velithra stood there, watching him walk away.
Step by step.
Until he disappeared from view.
The street felt too quiet afterward.
Too still.
She stayed there a moment longer.
Then turned toward home.
Everything looked the same.
But nothing felt the same.
Because now—
He was gone.