Ayla's fingers loosened around Silas's shirt as if something inside her finally snapped. The warmth of his body, the steady presence that had anchored her moments ago, suddenly felt like something she had no right to hold onto. A sharp breath left her chest. She pushed against him.
Not hard.
Just enough to create distance.
Silas allowed the movement, his arms falling away. The sudden space between them felt enormous. Cold air rushed into the gap, and Ayla instantly felt exposed, like she had stepped out without skin.
She shook her head, curls sticking to her damp cheeks. Her voice came out broken.
"No… I can't stay here."
The words trembled, but the intent behind them was desperate and real.
"I shouldn't… I shouldn't be here anymore."
Her chest tightened as she said it. The sentence felt like she was tearing something out of herself, but she forced it through anyway. She began to stand, knees weak, palms trembling.
She didn't get far.
Silas's hand closed around her wrist.
