I pulled back, tears welling up within my eyes. "Michael, please understand," I said, my voice merely a whisper. "I love Dakota and I have to save him. trading places with him was the only way I knew to save him." Tears poured openly down my cheeks as I looked into his eyes. How could I have kissed him back? But I already know the answer. I loved him, too. I've been fighting it all this time. How could I love them both? I knew I couldn't. "Michael, I love you, too, but it's always been Dakota."
He nodded, tears streaming down his cheeks as he looked into my eyes. Then he took a step back. "Which is why I hope you'll forgive me for doing this."
My heart sank. "Doing what?" I asked, my voice flat.
"Gillespie!" he yelled into the Magical Forest.
"No, Michael!" I yelled, understanding what was happening. "Don't leave me here!"
He shook his head. "It's for your own good. I can't trust that you won't do something like that again."
