Livia stared at her hands, fingers trembling slightly. The thought of freedom — of disappearing and building a life without pain — was tempting. So painfully tempting. But the image that always rose to the surface wasn't a distant, nameless future.
It was him. The warmth of his arms, the way his eyes softened when they met hers, the promise he made beneath the stars.
"I…" She stopped, unable to finish.
Florita placed a gentle hand over hers. "You don't have to answer me now," she said with a small smile. "But when the time comes — when those gates open — the decision must be yours and yours alone. Not ours. Not the world's. Yours."
Livia looked up, and in Florita's gaze, she found no pressure, no expectation — only love, pride, and the unspoken truth that she was free to choose.
"Whatever you choose," Florita added softly, "I will still be proud of you."
A lump formed in Livia's throat, and all she could do was nod.
