Bada's body screamed with pain. Her ribs throbbed, her arms burned, and her face was a map of bruises and dried blood. Every step toward Saeles's house was agony, but she refused to stop. Her obsession had become stronger than fear, stronger than self-preservation.
"I… I have to see her… I'll do anything… I can't leave her…" she whispered through ragged breaths.
Hiding behind the fence, Bada pressed closer, ignoring the sharp edges of broken glass and wet leaves cutting into her hands. She peered through the window, heart aching as she watched Saeles strike the bag with relentless precision, blood mixing with sweat.
Even as pain wracked her body, Bada whispered again, a vow to herself and to the girl she loved:
"I… I'll keep coming… I'll endure… I'll never leave…"