Thomas, on the other hand, had stepped forward with clarity and respect.
Thomas chose.
Martin abstained.
Logic was simple.
So why did logic feel like compromise?
She stood abruptly, moving to the window overlooking the city. Movement helped. Perspective helped. Distance helped.
“I need to move on,” she said aloud, forcing steadiness into her voice.
The words sounded firm.
Convincing.
Necessary.
And yet, beneath them, something fragile resisted — not loudly, not dramatically, but persistently, like a quiet pulse she could not silence.
She did not want to be chosen by absence.
She wanted to be chosen deliberately.
Thomas had done that.
This was the right step.
It had to be.
Still… as she returned to her desk and resumed her work, she could not ignore the strange truth settlin
