“I saved you because I love you!”

The words echoed around the empty room in the profound silence that followed.

“I love you,” Kira continued, slowly rising in volume, “and I know you’ll never love me back, and it fucking kills me to see you with him, but it’s better than seeing you dead.”

“Kira…” Aurelia said softly.

Kira shook her head miserably. “Don’t. Just… don’t.” She jerkily wiped away the tears that had begun to form in her eyes. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

Aurelia opened her mouth, but was cut off.

“And it isn’t your fault, so don’t you dare apologize. It’s just Fate, being a fucking bitch, as usual.” With a sound that was half a laugh and half a sob, Kira started for the door. She hesitated as she reached the threshold and looked back.

“See you around, I guess,” she said uncertainly. With that, she disappeared from the doorway.

Aurelia watched her friend leave, unable to recognize the swirl of emotions flooding through her body. She leaned against the rough stone wall and slid down. The cold floor was grounding as she took a few measured breaths.

“Fuck.”