š¤ Chapter: He Stays Anyway
Keifer's POV
She's still asleep when morning comes.
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Fever hasn't fully gone down.
Her breathing is calmerā¦ but still uneven.
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I didn't sleep.
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Didn't even try.
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I just stayed.
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Because leaving felt wrong.
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Ciel peeks in.
"ā¦how is she?"
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"Still warm," I answer quietly.
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She nods.
Doesn't ask anything else.
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But before she leaves, she looks at me for a second longer.
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Like she notices something different.
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Maybe I am.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
I wake up slowly.
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Everything still feels heavy.
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My headā¦ hurts less.
But my body doesn't feel like mine yet.
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Then I notice it.
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Keifer.
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Still here.
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Sitting near the bed.
Not too close.
Not far either.
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Justā¦ there.
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"ā¦you didn't go?" I whisper.
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He looks up immediately.
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"No."
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Just one word.
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Simple.
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I look away.
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"ā¦you should've rested."
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"I'm fine," he says.
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Quiet.
No argument.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
She's not pushing me away completely.
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But she's not letting me in either.
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And I deserve that.
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I reach for the glass beside her.
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"Drink," I say softly.
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She hesitates.
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Then takes it.
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Our fingers brush for a second.
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She pulls back first.
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Not sharply.
Justā¦ instinct.
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I notice.
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And I don't react.
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Later~~~
She tries to sit up more.
Fails halfway.
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I move forward instinctively.
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"Waitā"
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She shakes her head slightly.
"ā¦I can."
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But she can't.
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Stillā
I don't force it.
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I just stay close enough.
In case she falls.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
This is what hurts the most.
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Not her silence.
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Not even her distance.
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It's the fact that she's trying to handle it alone.
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Even now.
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Even like this.
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Because she's used to it.
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Because of me.
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Mama brings food.
Soup.
Light.
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I take it from her.
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"I'll give it," I say.
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She nods quietly.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
He sits beside me again.
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"Eat a little," he says.
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I look at the bowl.
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Then at him.
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"I'm not hungry."
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It comes out softer than I meant.
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"I know," he replies.
"ā¦just a little."
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I hesitate.
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Then take the spoon.
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Slowly.
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Not for me.
Not really.
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Just because he's still sitting there.
Waiting.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
She eats.
Barely.
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But she does.
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And I don't rush her.
Don't push.
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Just stay.
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She leans back again after.
Tired.
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Her eyes close.
Not fully asleep.
Just resting.
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I watch her for a second.
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Then look away.
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Because my chest feels tight again.
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Not like last night.
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But still heavy.
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> "She used to lean on me without thinkingā¦"
pause
> "ā¦now she won't even let herself."
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She shifts slightly.
Uncomfortable.
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Her hand rests near mine.
Not touching.
Just close.
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I don't take it this time.
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I don't move closer.
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I just stay there.
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Quiet.
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Because maybeā
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right nowā
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that's all I'm allowed to do.
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And I won't ruin it by asking for more.
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š¤ Chapter: Almost, But Not Yet
Jayjay's POV
I'm awake.
But I don't move.
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I know he's here.
I can feel it.
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The quiet.
The presence.
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"ā¦Jay?" his voice is soft.
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I open my eyes slowly.
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He's sitting closer today.
Not too close.
But closer than before.
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"ā¦yeah?"
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My voice is still weak.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
She's looking at me again.
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Not avoiding.
Not fully open.
Justā¦ careful.
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"I need to say something," I say quietly.
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She doesn't respond.
But she doesn't stop me either.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
I already feel it.
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Something in my chest tightens.
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Because I know this matters.
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But I'm alsoā¦ scared.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
I don't look away this time.
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"I read your words," I say.
"ā¦and I can't ignore them."
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My voice is steady at first.
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But it doesn't stay that way.
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"I didn't know you were hurting like that."
pause
"ā¦I should have."
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I swallow hard.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
My fingers tighten slightly on the blanket.
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Because a part of me wants to believe him.
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But thenā
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"I'm fine."
"Stop overthinking."
that toneā¦
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The memory flashes.
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And I pull back slightly.
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Not physically.
Emotionally.
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"ā¦it's okay," I say quietly.
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But it's not.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
That lineā
it hurts.
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Because I know it's not okay.
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And I can see it.
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"I don't want you to say that if it's not true," I say softly.
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She looks down.
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Silence.
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And that's when it hits again.
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Not loud.
Not dramatic.
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Justā¦ heavy.
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š¤ Breaking moment
"I messed up," I whisper.
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My voice drops lower.
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"ā¦not just once."
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A pause.
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"ā¦I kept doing it."
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My throat tightens.
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"I made you feel like trying was wrong."
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My voice cracks slightly at the end.
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And I can't stop it this time.
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A tear falls.
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Then another.
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Still silent.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
I freeze.
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Because I've never seen him like this.
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Not just emotionalā
but not holding back in front of me.
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"ā¦Keiferā¦" I whisper.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
"I didn't know how to fix it," I continue quietly.
"ā¦so I just made it worse."
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I shake my head slightly.
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"I thought staying quiet meant I wouldn't hurt you againā¦"
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A shaky breath.
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"ā¦but it just made you feel alone."
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Another tear slips down.
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I don't wipe it.
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Because I don't want to hide anything from her anymore.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
My chest hurts.
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Because I can feel it.
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He's not just saying it.
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He understands it.
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And that's what makes it harder.
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I slowly move my hand.
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Just a little.
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Closer to him.
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Not touching yet.
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Justā¦ closer.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
I notice.
Immediately.
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And I don't move.
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Because I knowā
if I rush itā
she'll pull back again.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
I almost reach him.
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Almost.
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Thenā
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that moment againā¦
his voice
his tone
that day
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My hand stops.
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And I pull it back.
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Not fast.
Not dramatic.
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Justā¦ quietly.
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"ā¦I'm trying," I whisper.
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My voice breaks slightly.
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"I just can't forget it yet."
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Silence.
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š¤ Keifer's POV
That line doesn't hurt.
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It grounds me.
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Because it's the truth.
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And I nod slowly.
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"I know," I say softly.
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No pressure.
No expectation.
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Just acceptance.
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š¤ Jayjay's POV
That's what makes it easier.
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He's not asking me to forgive him.
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He's justā¦ staying.
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We sit there.
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Not fixed.
Not healed.
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But not broken apart either.
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Justā¦ in between.
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And for nowā
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that's enough.
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