Renzor watches Aya from his hidden vantage point, his heart aching with each tear that falls from her eyes. The sight of her pain pierces him deeply, knowing that his absence has caused her so much sorrow. He longs to go to her, to comfort her, but he knows it's not yet the time.
Aya closes the door to her room and collapses into bed. Her heart races, and her body is filled with desire and confusion. She touches her lips, still tingling from the kiss she shared with Verrin. She sighs, a smile momentarily gracing her lips before it fades into uncertainty.
Turning on her side, Aya looks at a picture of Renzor on her bedside table. The image stirs a mix of emotions within her—love, longing, and a deep-seated pain. She turns away from the picture, her mind conflicted and her heart heavy. "He is not coming back," she whispers, the words sounding hollow even to her ears.
