Lyra tried to stay away from both of them.
It didn’t work.
Avoiding them didn’t quiet anything—it made everything louder. Every thought circled back to the same place, the same moments, the same feeling she couldn’t explain.
Or ignore.
She had just stepped into the clearing when she felt him.
Daniel.
“You’re doing it again,” he said.
Lyra didn’t turn immediately. “Doing what?”
“Running,” he replied calmly.
She sighed softly and faced him. “I’m not running.”
“You are,” he said, stepping a little closer. “Just not physically.”
That hit more than she expected.
Lyra folded her arms slightly. “And what do you want me to do? Stand still and pretend everything is clear?”
Daniel shook his head. “No. I want you to stop pretending it’s not.”
Silence stretched between them.
Because tha
