1. Calista
1
CALISTA
The Arid Sands
I lay in bed, wide awake, watching the light shift through the curtains. I’d become an expert at predicting the time just by the way the light changed in intensity. Right now, the light was so faint it was hardly noticeable, which told me sunrise was just thirty minutes away.
I lay there, my wrists chained together across my chest, my ankles secured together beneath the covers. It was hard to turn from side to side because the sheets got bunched against my body, so it was easier just to lie on my back all night. I used to be a side sleeper—but those days were over.
My eyes remained focused on the window, watching the light grow as the minutes passed, dreading the moment I had to get out of bed and get to work. The mornings were the best time of day in the desert, the air still cool and crisp, the sun low in intensity as it hung over the horizon. But as it approached high noon, it became unbearable, the sun scorching on my skin, the heat making my clothes sticky. There was never enough water, so headaches were an everyday occurrence.
General Titan stirred beside me, his mind rising with the morning sun. He was on his side but rolled onto his back, releasing a heavy sigh after a long night of comfortable sleep. His fingers dug the crust out of the corners of his eyes as he sighed again.
I kept my gaze locked on the window.
He grabbed the key off the nightstand and yanked the covers back to release the metal padlock around my ankles. He’d quickly learned that if I wasn’t fully restrained, I would find some way to attack him during the night. I’d tried to smother him to death with a pillow, tried to bash his skull with a water glass, had tried choking him with my bare hands. Anything I could think of, I’d tried.
As a result, I was fully secured.
Once my legs were free, the same fight we had every morning began. I tried to kick myself free, kicking him hard enough to leave a bruise, but with a hundred pounds on me, he always overpowered me. That victory was always accompanied by a gloating smile, and he gave a pleasured sigh once he was inside me.
He fucked me like a whore…and I just lay there.
I pulled the long-sleeved linen shirt over my head then popped the hood, letting it drop over my face to protect my skin from the ruthless sun. It was so powerful it still pierced the thin material, but it was better than no protection at all.
I pulled on my boots and laced them up tight, ignoring General Titan as he stood there and watched. His eyes were always on me, always obsessively watching me. He was in his armor and uniform, prepared to watch our work in the desert.
I ignored his existence like I always did—until he didn’t give me a chance.
“You know you don’t have to go out there.” His dark armor was black mixed with gray, with streaks of red in the hard material. It was impenetrable by my bare fists. Impenetrable by the sharp edge of broken glass. Every weapon I could find was useless against it. The only time he was unprotected was at night when we slept, while I was imprisoned by the metal restraints, there was nothing I could do.
Once my boots were secure, I stood upright and headed to the door.
“You could stay in here out of the sun.” He crossed his muscular arms over his chest as he watched me. “Rest. Take a bath. You’re sleeping with the most powerful man in this camp. It would be smart to take advantage of it.”
When I reached the doorway, I gave him a cold stare. “I’d rather die in the sun than live in your shadow.” I stepped into the long hallway and headed toward the exit, hearing his heavy footfalls behind me a moment later, slowly getting closer to me because a single step of his was at least two of mine.
Then he was right behind me, stalking me like prey, his quiet anger suffocating me like a pillow.
Once we walked out of the double doors, he moved to my side and escorted me down the steps and through the iron gate. We stepped onto the bare sand, the stones that acted as a pathway hidden underneath the sand that had blown in the wind. It was morning so the sunlight was gentle, but in just a few hours, it would be unbearable.
General Titan walked me to the location of the dig. Guards were on metal risers, overseeing the pits where the slaves dug into the sand.
I took a step toward the ladder so I could get to work.
The general snatched me by the arm and jerked me back to him, his lips against my ear. “You’ll pay for that comment later.”
I tried to twist out of his grasp, but he just yanked me into his chest. “Have a good day, sweetheart.” Then he shoved me, shoved me so hard that my foot got caught in the sand, and I fell to the ground. “Now, get to work.” He kicked me hard in the side, making me flip onto my back with my face to the side. He gave another kick, spraying me with a cloud of sand that got into my mouth and eyes. The last thing I saw was his merciless grin before he walked off.
I lay there for a second, feeling the cloud of despair cover the sun and leave a shadow of darkness on my face. Some days were easier than others, but most of them were hard as hell. Today was one of those days when I wondered why I continued on. All I had to do was stop drinking water throughout the day. It was so hot and dry that my body would fail me by evening. I worked for the Empire by day, and then I worked for the general by night.
What was the fucking point?
But as always, I got back to my feet and carried on.
I climbed the ladder into the pit and went to work with the others. Sand seemed soft and harmless, but it was as dangerous as water. You could drown in the sand—and I’d watched a lot of people die that way. If a powerful gust of wind came over the horizon, it could push an entire mound on top of the diggers, and the more you tried to climb out of the slippery grains, the more you slipped under. It turned into a sinkhole.
I stepped into the pit and found Amelia.
She stuck her shovel into the sand. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” I grabbed a shovel and did the same.
“He kicked you pretty hard.”
“I’ve already forgotten about it.” I had a stitch in my side now, like the muscle was tight from the trauma, and whenever I turned too far, it gave a spasm. When my clothes came off that night, I would see a disgusting bruise left on the skin.
Amelia’s stare lingered on my face for a moment before she got back to work. “Why do you come down here?”
My shovel got a pile of sand before I carried it to the lift. Once it was full enough, the guards would roll it back to the surface to be transported a distance away. Buckets of water were pumped from the well and tossed into the pit, making the sand harder, therefore easier to manage and less likely to collapse. But it was wasteful because the sand dried so quickly in the heat, and we were left with just drops for ourselves. Any slaves who were caught drinking that water were put to death.
Water was more precious than gold out here.
I dug my shovel into the ground and grabbed another pile of sand before I tossed it onto the lift.
“Calista?”
I tried to ignore her question, but she wouldn’t let me off so easily. “I prefer it down here.”
“You would rather break your back in the heat than sit in the shade?” She continued to work, keeping her head down to make it less obvious we were talking.
“I’d rather not give him the satisfaction.”
“I don’t want to sound insensitive, but I wish the general preferred me. I’d fuck him to get out of this any day.”
It was insensitive—and na?ve. “I’d say I wished the general preferred you too, but I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
Food and water were lowered into the pit at midday. It seemed barbaric to give us a break when there was no respite from the sun. With the blazing ball of heat directly above us, no shade was cast by the walls. Everyone bent their backs to bow their heads, their thin clothing the only escape from the scorching rays of the sun.
Amelia and I didn’t shy away from it. We leaned against one of the walls, embracing the sun and giving our backs a chance to rest.
Our break was spent in silence, both of us too tired to say anything. This time of day was our only chance to talk because I didn’t join the others in the barracks, but we were too tired for jokes or conversation. I missed staying with the others, preferring that moth-eaten cot to the sprawling king-size bed with that asshole in it.
“You think we’ll ever find one?” she asked.
I turned toward her.
“I’ve been digging with this crew a long time. Never found a black diamond.”
A black diamond was a crystal only found in the Arid Sands. They were rare, so rare we were lucky to find one once a year. I’d never seen one with my own eyes, so I wasn’t sure what to look for. Was it small like a pebble or more obvious like a rock? I’d probably never know. But I was motivated to find one because whoever did was granted freedom.
They were granted passage back to the valley, where they could begin a new life in one of the kingdoms. They were given a sack of coins to get started—payment for their contribution to the Death King.
I’d worked in that camp the last seven years, and not once had I come close to finding one. The odds were much greater that I would work in the pits until I died of old age than find one of those diamonds.
Amelia gave a long sigh. “What a life wasted. To live and die in the pits.”
“We can try to escape…like I’ve already suggested.”
“You know we would never make it across the desert. We’d either die out there, or they would catch us. Either way, we end up dead.”
“Maybe we don’t try to escape,” I said. “We take over the compound instead.”
Amelia was about to drink her water when she turned to me instead, her eyes narrowed in interest.
“There’s more of us than them.”
“But they have armor and weapons.”
“Not in the middle of the night. And we have shovels. It’d be easy to kill a man with one of those.”
She continued to stare at me like she was actually considering it. “We’d have to convince everyone, and I’m not sure they’re all trustworthy. Some are snitches. They sleep with the guards to get kickbacks. That’s how I’m getting you your medicine.”
She referred to Germanium, the plant used as a contraceptive. Without it, I’d be pregnant with that monster’s baby. Sometimes, I wondered if that was what he wanted because he never seemed concerned with that outcome. Maybe he thought if I had his baby, that would make me like him more…which wasn’t possible. “It’s fun to fantasize.”
“Yeah, it is.”
We needed the numbers to be successful, and if some of them weren’t trustworthy, then that meant the mission would fail. By not staying in the barracks with everyone, I couldn’t distinguish who was right for the mission. I’d been with General Titan for a year now. The second he was stationed here, he set his eye on me. At first, he offered me gifts in exchange for sex, but I denied all his advances. When it was clear there was nothing he could offer me to get me on my back, he forced me instead—and he seemed to enjoy that more anyway. I’d been his prisoner ever since.
The horn sounded, ending everyone’s break.
“Back to work.” Amelia capped her canteen then got to her feet before she extended her hand to me.
“Yep.” I took it and let her pull me up. “Back at it.”
I lay there in the tub of the bathroom. The warm water was up to my shoulders, soothing against my dry skin. It was quiet in the bedchambers because General Titan had left to play poker with the other soldiers stationed in the Arid Sands.
I was all alone.
I loved being alone, but it also brought out the worst in me.
Those dark thoughts I tried to defeat always floated back to the surface, whispering for me to end a life not worth living. At that moment, I was in a body of water. All I had to do was slip underneath and never come back up.
It would be over.
When I’d stepped into my father’s study and discovered he’d chosen to take his own life rather than take up his sword to fight the Death King with his men, I felt raw disappointment in my chest. In those final moments when he’d said goodbye to me, I’d thought he was the bravest man I’d ever known.
But he was only brave because he knew it would all be over in a few minutes.
He wasn’t brave at all…but a coward.
But now, I viewed his past with new eyes. It was a path I refused to take after feeling such a horrible loss.
But…maybe it wasn’t a coward’s way out.
Maybe it was the only way out.
My father couldn’t run from the Death King. Couldn’t defeat him. Since that night, the Death King had taken over the entire continent, forcing the kingdoms to submit to his singular rule. The world had changed these last ten years under his tyranny. He demanded recruits for his army. Demanded slaves to dig for black diamonds. He seemed to prepare for war, but there was no one left to fight.
My father had been right when he’d said the world would change under his rule.
I let my body sink to the bottom of the tub, let it bounce off the bottom until it floated in the center. My arms crossed over my chest just the way they did when I slept, chained by the metal. I closed my eyes and forced myself to calm, to accept what was about to happen, to know that my death would be swift and painless.
Just as I started to feel the strain on my lungs, I heard voices.
There were two voices. General Titan wasn’t alone in the bedchambers.
I lifted my head out of the water and inhaled a deep breath as their words became audible.
“Did he say why?” General Titan’s voice was authoritative, like he was speaking to an insubordinate.
“No,” the guard answered. “Said he’ll be here in three days.”
“Then we need to be ready for the Death King’s arrival. Prepare the royal bedchambers. We need to make sure we have food for his dragon as well.”
“Yes, General.” His footsteps sounded before the door shut.
I sat in the tub and let the water drip from my hair. My lungs continued to work hard in recovery but also excitement.
The Death King is coming.
And he had a dragon.
I worked beside Amelia, a shadow cast across us from the morning sun. It was the most productive part of the day for everyone because it was cool and comfortable. Our shovels dug into the slightly damp sand, and we gave the grains a quick shake to see if there were any diamonds inside. Then it was tossed onto the lift to be hoisted up later.
I spoke in a whisper so no one would overhear my words. “The Death King will be here in two days.”
Amelia had just stuck her shovel into the sand when she heard what I said. She stilled, her foot resting on the back of the spade. “How do you know this?”
“General Titan.”
“Why is he coming?”
“I don’t know. They don’t know either.”
“I don’t think he’s ever come to the Arid Sands.”
“I wonder if he’s angry that we haven’t found any diamonds for the past year.” Perhaps he wanted to threaten us all to work harder, to work faster. I had no idea why he wanted the black diamonds or what their use was—but it must be important. “But that gave me an idea.”
“What?” She picked up her shovel again and sifted through it for a diamond.
“He has a dragon.” We both walked to the lift, and because there were people around, we turned quiet until we returned to our digging spot.
“So?”
“A dragon that can fly.”
“Yes…” Her eyebrow was cocked as she looked at me.
“We can get on that dragon and get the fuck out of here.”
Now, both of her eyebrows rose, and she looked at me like I was mad. “You want to steal the king’s dragon?”
“Why not?”
“Because you’ll get caught.”
“Not if I leave him in the Arid Sands and take off.”
“And how do you expect to get the dragon to cooperate?”
I shrugged. “Like a horse? You climb into the saddle and take the reins. Give him a little kick, and he’ll take off.”
That same incredulous look was on her face. “Or he’ll just eat you.”
“Maybe. But I’m desperate, and this opportunity will probably never happen again.”
“Staging a coup against the guards was a much better idea than this.”
I gave another shrug. “Like I said, I’m desperate.”
We got back to work, digging into the sand and hoisting it onto the lift. Hours passed in silence, and soon, the sun was directly overhead. The only good thing about the rising sun was the fact that it was closer to lunchtime. They worked us like farm animals, but they fed us well to keep us going, so that was something to be grateful for.
I moved back to the spot where we were working and pushed my shovel into the earth. But I heard a noticeable crunch, a scraping sensation against the bottom of my shovel. I looked up to see if Amelia had heard it too, but she was still at the lift, talking to one of her bunkmates.
I straightened my shovel and dug at a different angle, sliding underneath the object that obstructed my shovel. Sometimes we encountered rocks buried deep underneath the sand that made our shovels stop in their tracks. They were a pain because they were usually too heavy to hold with the shovel, so we had to carry them with our hands to get them out of the way. That was probably all it was.
I lifted the shovel and expected to see a dull rock the same color as the sand…but it was black.
Black and shiny and metallic.
I dropped the shovel on the ground because I couldn’t believe my eyes. Couldn’t believe that it had really happened…that I had found a black diamond. I kneeled down and picked it up with my bare hands, careful not to cut my fingers on the jagged edges. It wasn’t a rock, but a square, its density so substantial that it weighed several times more than a rock of the same size. I rose to my feet as I examined it in both hands, my body shaking in utter shock.
“Oh my god…”
I looked over my shoulder to see Amelia standing there, her shovel on the ground because she’d dropped it when she spotted the black diamond in my hands. “Oh my fucking god…”
Everyone in the pit stopped working. They all turned to look at the shiny diamond I held. There was a collective silence, a tension full of envy. This rock was my ticket out of there, but the others would remain…probably until they died.
The guards made their way down the ladder into the pit and parted the crowd as they approached me. Not a word was spoken. The air was so heavy that I forgot about the blistering sun and the sweat on the back of my neck that trailed all the way to my ass. Two of them stopped in front of me and stared at the black diamond in my hand, studying it before one of them reached out and took it. He flipped it over, watched the sunlight beam off its surface, and then turned to the other guard and gave a nod before he carried it away.
The other guard drew close and then nodded toward the ladder. “Let’s go.”
All my elation evaporated like a drop of water in the desert. I was about to be free, free from this horrible existence, free from General Titan. But all the joy was swallowed by the cold reality of who I would leave behind.
I looked at Amelia.
A forced smile was on her face, but the despair was heavy in her eyes, along with the tears. The more they watered, the harder she smiled, and it created the most heartbreaking look I’d ever seen. “It’s okay,” she mouthed to me.
I turned back to the guard, the weight of her grief too much to handle. “We both found it at the same time. Our shovels hit it at the exact same moment. And that black diamond is huge, easily two diamonds combined together… I think that’s fair.”
He glanced at Amelia behind me before he looked at me again. Then he grinned in amusement. “Nice try. Let’s go.”
“Please.” I grabbed his arm, and that was a mistake because he twisted out of my grasp and shoved me.
I fell on my ass in the sand.
He towered over me and pointed his finger in my face. “Come with me, or don’t come at all.” He walked off and headed back to the ladder.
Amelia ran over and grabbed me by the arm before she hoisted me up. “Calista, it’s okay.”
“I can’t leave you here.”
“Yes, you can.” Her tears started to fall. “Because I would leave you. In a heartbeat. This place is so horrific…and I know it’s even more horrific for you. So, just go.” She pulled away, her bottom lip trembling. “ Go, Calista .”
Was she telling a lie to make me go? Or was it the cold hard truth? I would probably never know. I rushed into her and gave her a tight hug, squeezing her hard because I knew this was the last time we’d ever be together. She would probably die out there while I moved on to a new life.
She squeezed me back.
The guard barked at me. “Don’t make me ask you again.”
I pulled away. “Take care of yourself, Amelia.”
She smiled, and this time, it seemed real. “You too, Calista.”
I averted my gaze as I turned away and focused on the ladder ahead of me, the ladder that would take me out of the pit for the very last time. Never again would I have to climb down. Never again would I have to pick up a shovel. Never again would I have to be violated by that son of a bitch.
I climbed to the top and straightened, looking out across the endless desert. Gusts of wind blew everywhere, splashing sand straight into my eyes, but it was a mere annoyance when I felt this much jubilation.
They escorted me into the compound, a structure made of stone, an oasis in the middle of nowhere. The guards served half a year at a time to make the arduous journey worth it. General Titan had been here far longer because he’d been appointed to oversee the project entirely. I wasn’t sure what kind of man would accept such a horrible job, especially permanently.
I stepped into the shade, the temperature instantly ten degrees cooler without the sun, and I closed my eyes to relish the cold. All the aches and pains in my body suddenly frothed to the surface when I no longer had to suppress them. If I had a laborious job in the Empire, at least I would be paid for it. I had no idea how I would start over or where I would go, but I knew that adventure would be far better than this one.
We entered a study with a large desk and several bookcases. There was even a fireplace, which seemed out of place in the desert. The nights could be cold, so cold that ice crystals formed on the surface of the sand, but I would take the frozen nights over the scorching days anytime.
At the desk was General Titan, sitting upright with several missives scattered around him. When he looked up, his gaze tightened in slight surprise, not expecting to see me, of all people. Last night, he’d tied my wrists behind my back and forced my face into the sheets as he fucked me from behind. All I did was lie there, practically dead, just to make it as boring as possible. But I’d discovered there was nothing I could do to make him want me less. Bruises on my face weren’t a deterrent. My smart mouth wasn’t either. I didn’t shower for a week straight, and I smelled like swine, but that didn’t dampen his desire whatsoever. His obsession was unconditional.
He glanced at the guard beside me, quietly asking for an explanation.
The other guard came forward and placed the black diamond on the desk. “The largest diamond we’ve ever found. The Death King will be pleased.”
I hated myself for doing anything to benefit that monster, but I was desperate for freedom. Desperate for a new life.
General Titan stared at it, his look hard in displeasure.
“We’ll arrange a caravan for her return in the morning,” the guard said. “Shall we escort her to your chambers?” The other guards used the girls for their own benefit, but General Titan was unique for having a domestic partnership with me. The others might not be able to get away with that, but since he was in charge, he could do whatever he wanted.
General Titan shifted his gaze to me. It was a cold stare packed with silent fury. I knew him well enough to know exactly what he was thinking.
I found it hard not to smile.
General Titan rose from his seat, his gray cape hanging behind him, his sword at his hip. “You can escort her back to the pit. She won’t be going anywhere.”
All the blood drained from my face as horror filled my veins. My eyes frantically shifted back and forth between his as my mind absorbed the implications of his words. “The Death King said freedom is granted to anyone who finds a black diamond?—”
“His Majesty isn’t here.” He stepped forward, his signature grin on his face, his elation from my misery apparent. “And I am.”
“You can’t do this?—”
“Get your ass back in the pit. Find all the black diamonds, I don’t give a fuck. You’re never leaving.”
“Fucking asshole.”
He nodded to the guard. “Return her to the pit.”
They started to drag me away.
“I’ll tell the Death King what you’ve done.”
General Titan had just started to turn around to return to his desk, but he pivoted back to me, eyes narrowed. “And how will you do that?”
“He’ll be here in two days—just as you said.”
The guards all looked at me then turned to him.
That smile was long gone. “Then I guess I better make sure you don’t cross paths.” He nodded to the men again.
I threw up my elbow and fought back. “Don’t do this! This isn’t fair!”
“Life isn’t fair, sweetheart.” He turned back to the desk. “Get used to it.”
I shoved them off again. “Please…please let me go.”
He dropped back into the chair and picked up the missive as if he didn’t hear me.
“Titan!”
They started to drag me to the doorway.
I had to fight tooth and nail to stay in the room. In a flash across my mind, I knew there was no scenario where General Titan released me. His obsession was permanent, like scar tissue. That sweet taste of freedom had quickly turned sour on my tongue. Unless I killed all the guards or snuck across the desert and evaded capture, I would always remain here. “At least let someone else go in my place.” If I couldn’t get out of here, then someone else should. And I knew who that person should be. “That’s only fair.”
General Titan lifted his chin to look at me.
“A black diamond for someone’s freedom. Honor it .”
He sat back in the chair for a moment before he released a sigh. “Let me guess…your little friend Amelia.”
He watched me far closer than I realized. “Please.”
He studied me for a moment longer before he rose from his chair again. He came closer, every step growing louder as he drew near. “Leave us.”
The guard released my arm and walked out. The other left too. The door closed seconds later. Now, it was just the two of us—and I felt far less safe.
He stopped directly before me. “I’ll grant your request. But I want something in return.”
“I’ve given you a black diamond?—”
“You’ve given your king a black diamond. I want a gift as well.”
Bile flooded my mouth.
“Tell me you love me.”
What in the actual fuck? “You’re a sick fuck?—”
“Tell me, or she stays.”
“You know I despise you?—”
“Then make it believable.”
“Fuck you?—”
“ Last chance .” He raised his voice slightly. “Look me in the eye and say it like you fucking mean it—or no deal.”
The horror burned into my brain. It flared everywhere, third-degree burns from the surface of the sun. He’d taken my body and my pride, but he’d never taken my dignity, and he was about to change that.
His eyes bored into mine, waiting for my obedience.
It was physically painful just to consider it. I could keep my dignity and return to the pit. When Amelia asked what happened, I would tell her that General Titan refused to let me go. I didn’t have to tell her I’d forfeited her freedom. She would never know. And if she left, I would lose my only friend here. No one wanted to get near me when they knew General Titan had me under his watchful eye.
But I couldn’t do that to her.
I couldn’t live with myself if I had the opportunity to give her a better life but chose not to.
“I’m waiting, sweetheart.”
I forced my gaze to his and tried to think of a happy moment in my life. One of those times when my father told me he loved me before he left for a day’s ride. Or when my mother cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead. I tried to think of real love, love that I’d only known briefly. “I—I love you.” I hated myself the moment I said it, wished I were dead, wished I could take it back. But what was done was done.
That disturbing smile returned to his face, gloating and arrogant, full of malice and pleasure. “Good girl.”
I made the long journey back down the ladder, very aware of the general inside me, poisoning me with his cruel possession. I went down that ladder every morning without the bitter taste in my mouth—but this time was different.
When the diggers realized I’d returned, they all paused in their work to look at me, surprised that I’d returned after being granted freedom. They exchanged looks with one another and, unable to bottle their shock, whispered to each other.
I walked back to my corner section where Amelia stood, her shovel clasped in both of her hands. Like everyone else, she was initially surprised, but when she read the look on my face, she knew.
She fucking knew.
The guards followed me and stopped when I reached Amelia.
I dropped my gaze and looked at the sand for a moment, where my bones would be buried someday. That night in the bathtub could have been my last—and I should have made it so. My eyes lifted to meet hers again. “Go.”
She shoved the spade into the sand so the shovel stood upright then walked to me. “What happened?” she whispered, glancing behind me to look at the guards who waited for the exchange.
It was hard to say it out loud, that my freedom had been denied by a man who refused to ever let me go. If he’d never been stationed here, I would be free. If I just had a different look, I would be free. “He won’t let me go.” My voice cracked with unshed tears as I spoke. I compartmentalized my experiences for survival, focused on the next step of my plan rather than the abuse I’d already endured. But my strength had waned, and I felt myself crumble into pieces.
Amelia inhaled a heavy breath at my announcement, anger flooding into her pretty features. Her eyes were like daggers when she was furious—and right now, the tips were sharp. She clearly didn’t know what to say. Otherwise, she would have run her mouth like she always did.
“Go.” I nodded to the guards behind me. “If it can’t be me, I want it to be you.”
She took another deep breath as her eyes glanced past me to the ladder, the escape to freedom. For just an instant, her eyes glimmered with excitement and hope, but the minute she looked at me again, those emotions were snuffed out like a dying fire. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
She embraced me with a hard squeeze, pulling me close and giving me as much support as she could in such a brief interaction, enough of her love to get me through the harsh loneliness I was about to endure. “Don’t give up, alright?” She pulled away and gripped me by both arms.
I nodded. “Live your life…and think of me.”
Heavy drops formed in her eyes, growing bigger and shaking every time her eyes shifted their gaze. When she blinked, the moisture was finally released from the surface of her eyes, and the tears slid down her cheeks like raindrops against a window. After she gave me a final squeeze, she walked past me…and took my place.