The veil of hearts

•say goodbye•

34
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The sun hung low on the horizon, painting Almira's sky in a breathtaking array of oranges, pinks, and purples. Aina stood at the water's edge, her toes sinking into the damp sand as gentle waves lapped at her feet. Her eyes roamed the familiar skyline, drinking in every detail as if it were her last chance to see it.

"It might be," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the soft rush of the sea.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the beach, Aina's mind drifted to Joshua. A bittersweet smile played on her lips as memories washed over her like the tide.

She remembered their first meeting in the elevator, his kind eyes and reassuring smile making her feel welcome in a strange new place. The memory shifted to their time in Finland, the confusion and fear she'd felt when she suddenly understood Finnish, and how Joshua had wrapped his shawl around her shoulders, guiding her to a quiet café.

"Come on, let's get you somewhere quiet. We'll figure this out together," he had said, his voice a anchor in her sea of uncertainty.

Aina hugged herself, almost feeling the phantom warmth of his shawl and the comforting weight of his hand on her shoulder. She recalled the steaming cup of coffee he'd placed in her trembling hands, his eyes full of concern and unwavering support.

"Whatever's happening, whatever this means, you're not alone. I'm here," Joshua's words echoed in her mind, bringing a lump to her throat.

The sky darkened further, stars beginning to peek out above the fading streaks of sunset. Aina's thoughts turned to that rainy night in Almira, when she'd run terrified into Joshua's arms.

"You're safe now," he had murmured, holding her tightly as the rain soaked them both. "I'm here."

A tear slipped down Aina's cheek, quickly wiped away by the cool sea breeze. She knew, with a certainty that both warmed and pained her heart, that Joshua would do anything for her. That he'd stand by her side through whatever dangers lay ahead if she asked.

But that was precisely why she couldn't ask.

"I'm sorry, Joshua," she whispered to the darkening sky. "I can't put you in danger. This is something I have to do alone."

As the last sliver of sun disappeared below the horizon, Aina took one final, longing look at Almira's skyline. The city lights were coming on, twinkling like earthbound stars. This place had become her home, and Joshua... Joshua had become so much more than just a professor.

"It's not that wonderful to be tortured together," she whispered, the phrase carrying a weight of painful truth.

The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the danger she was facing and why she had to face it alone. Aina closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over her as she reflected on their meaning.

"I can't drag him into this," Aina murmured, opening her eyes to stare at the darkening horizon. "It wouldn't be fair. It wouldn't be... wonderful."

The word 'wonderful' tasted bitter on her tongue. There was nothing wonderful about the fear that had become her constant companion, about the fragments of memories that haunted her, about the unknown threats lurking in her past.

Aina hugged herself tightly, as if trying to hold together the pieces of her fractured identity. "I'm sorry, Joshua," she said to the night air. "But this isn't a burden we can share. This isn't an adventure we can face together. This is my tortured path to walk alone."