lerk's questions in a steady voice. Each answer, each signature, felt like a deliberate step away from the life I once knew. My hands were steady as I signed the fin

aid, stamping my file. "Your new passport and doc

walked out of the building and into the bustling c

I had shared, to pack my things. He was never there, always with Sarah at the hospital or the new

zy Sunday mornings. I looked at the face of the man in the photos, the man who had promised me forever, and felt nothing but a d

ts, his shoes. I folded them and packed them into boxes, which I labeled 'Liam' in blac

every film we had ever seen together. The worn copy of his favorite book that he used to read to me. Each item was a memory, a small piece of the life we had built.

d. Liam walked in, and he wasn't alone. Sarah was with him, leaning on

and the stacks of boxes. The air

, his voice strained.

ot looking at him. I focused on seali

It' s temporary. You don' t have to leave. I bought a new place for Sar

gaze. "It' s your home. I' m just

nor, please don' t make things difficult for Mr. Vance. He' s been under so

through me. She looked at me with a mixture of

ed, my voice dripping with an

bing my suitcase, but S

d over, her face contorted in

instantly. "What' s w

nger at me. "She... she glared at me. The stress... it m

lief. She was actually blaming

you do? I told you she needs a peaceful environment! Can' t you j

. I was the one who had been betrayed, abandoned, and

st like he had during the fire. "It' s okay, I' m here. I' ll take y

, leaving me standing alone amidst

burn, my head still throbbed from the concussion, but he hadn' t asked about m

s no

out looking back. My past was now packed in boxes an