š¤ Scene: The Quiet Day After
Keifer's POV
Morning feelsā¦ off.
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Not because of noise.
Because of absence.
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She's already up.
But I don't hear her.
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No footsteps near the kitchen.
No small voice asking something random.
No presence pulling attention without trying.
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Just silence.
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I walk down anyway.
She's there.
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Sitting with Ciel.
Talking.
Laughing softly.
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But when I step closerā
her voice lowers slightly.
Just a little.
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Then she stands.
"I'll help Mama," she says.
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And leaves.
Without looking at me.
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Ciel watches her go.
Then looks at me.
"ā¦she's been like that since yesterday."
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I don't answer.
Because I already know.
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š Later
I try again.
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"Jay."
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She pauses in the hallway.
Doesn't turn fully.
"ā¦yeah?"
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Just that.
Flat.
Careful.
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"Did you eat?"
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"Yeah."
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Lie.
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I frown slightly.
"ā¦you didn't."
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She finally looks at me.
A small polite smile.
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"I did."
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Then walks away again.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
This isn't anger.
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This isn't even distance anymore.
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It'sā¦ adjustment.
Like she changed her position around me.
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So I don't disturb anything anymore.
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And I don't know how to fix something that's already reorganize itself without me.
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š Night ā Liam Scene
It's late.
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I'm walking past the corridor.
I stop.
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Her door is slightly open.
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A voice inside.
Soft.
Shaky.
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I shouldn't listen.
But I do.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV (inside room)
I sit on the floor.
Liam's photo in my hand.
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My fingers tremble slightly.
"I triedā¦"
my voice breaks a little.
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"I really triedā¦"
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Silence.
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I swallow.
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"ā¦I was so stupid to think it would be different."
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My breath shakes.
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Then softerā
"ā¦why isn't he like you?"
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A pause.
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"I thought I was doing betterā¦"
small laugh that hurts
"ā¦I wasn't, was I?"
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My hand tightens on the photo.
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"I don't know what I'm doing wrongā¦"
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Silence.
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And I whisper:
"ā¦I miss when it didn't hurt to try."
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š¤ Keifer's POV (outside)
I freeze.
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Completely.
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Not moving.
Not breathing properly.
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Because I hear it.
All of it.
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Not anger.
Not blame.
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Justā¦ exhaustion.
From trying.
From me.
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And the worst part?
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She isn't talking to me.
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She's talking to someone who can't answer.
Because it feels safer.
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My hand tightens slightly.
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And I realize something I didn't before.
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She didn't stop loving.
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She stopped believing it's safe to show it to me.
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š Ending
I step back quietly.
Don't enter.
Don't interrupt.
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Because for the first timeā¦
I understand something clearly.
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This wasn't just a fight.
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It was something I caused to settle inside her.
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And now it lives there.
Quiet.
Heavy.
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