As I descended into the crowded subway station, my palm pressed briefly to my chest—where Kairi's alarm still hummed faintly in my soul, and where the warmth of the apartment was already fading into memory.
The path ahead didn't feel scripted.
It didn't feel authored.
It felt exposed.
Raw.
And for the first time in my life, that form of freedom frightened me more than any god ever had.
***
I finally gave in.
My eyes were no longer steady.
Instead, my vision blurred.
So much so it felt like the moment I'd struck that damn doorknob.
And then, instantaneously, my legs folded.
My body collapsed with a dull sound, followed by the blackout.
"Kairi? Kairi!"
A faint, panicked voice echoed in my ears.
Perhaps Azalea was screaming again.
After that, I had no idea what happened.
…
…
…
My eyes snapped open.
Warmth pressed along my back.
For a second I only registered the ridiculousness of being carried—princess-style—before the rest stacked into place.
