Lyra didn’t move.
Even after he was gone.
Even after the space where he had stood turned empty.
It was like her body refused to accept it.
Like if she stayed still long enough—
Time might rewind.
It didn’t.
“Lyra.”
Kael’s voice came again, closer now.
She felt his presence behind her.
Solid.
Real.
But it didn’t reach her.
Not completely.
Because part of her was still standing there—
In that moment.
In that second where everything could have changed.
If she had just spoken.
Her breath came uneven as she whispered, almost to herself, “I almost said it.”
Kael didn’t interrupt.
Didn’t rush.
“I almost chose,” she added.
The words felt heavy.
Like they meant something now.
More than before.
Kael stepped closer, his voice low. “But you didn’t.”
The truth landed softly.
