Eternal season

ad, it was slow and deliberate, as though her soul itself was finding its footing again after a long, hard fall. She sat at her small writing desk every day, staring at the blank pages

nt kind of sting. "So, you're leaving?" she asked, though her voice sounded distant to her own ears. Kai met her gaze, his eyes dark with unspoken emotions. "I have to. It's not like I want to. But..." He trailed off, as though unsure of how to finish the sentence. Aria swallowed hard, the lump in her throat refusing to go away. She had known that he wasn't here to stay. But she hadn't realized just how much she had come to rely on his presence in her life. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked, the hurt in her voice unmasked now. Kai looked away, as if ashamed. "I didn't want to complicate things. I didn't want you to think I was just passing through for no reason. But now it's time for me to go back to my life. This was always meant to be temporary." The silence between them stretched for what felt like an eternity, and Aria didn't know how to fill it. Her heart ached, a deep, gnawing pain that she had tried so hard to push away. "I thought maybe..." Aria began, but her words faltered. "I thought maybe things could be different." Kai's gaze softened, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to say something that would make everything feel better. But then, as if remembering the reality of the situation, he shook his head. "I know. I thought that too, at first. But sometimes, things just... aren't meant to be." Aria closed her eyes for a moment, the sting of his words sinking in deeper than she cared to admit. She had come to Merrivale seeking answers, hoping for something to fill the void she'd been carrying with her for so long. She had never expected it to be Kai-had never expected him to change the course of her life in the way he had. But now that she was standing at this crossroads, the reality of the situation was undeniable. She had to let go. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that Kai was still watching her, his face etched with regret. But there was also something else in his gaze-something that made her heart ache even more. "I wish things were different," he said quietly. Aria ma