Veil of Secrets

Chapter Fifty-Four - A Sweet Escape

Damian insisted on taking me out, saying I needed fresh air and something sweet to lift my spirits. I didn't argue. I wasn't sure I had the energy to resist even if I wanted to. So we ended up at this little diner a few miles from home, sitting in a booth with two milkshakes in front of us.

He ordered chocolate for me, remembering my favorite flavor without even asking. I stared at the whipped cream piled on top, but I didn't reach for it.

Damian sipped from his own glass, watching me from across the table. "You can start whenever you're ready, Aria. I'm not going to rush you."

I appreciated that. He wasn't pushing me, wasn't forcing me to snap out of it like so many others had tried. He was just... there.

I took a deep breath, finally lifting the milkshake and taking a small sip. The cold, sweet taste melted on my tongue, and for the first time in a long time, something other than numbness touched my senses.

"I've been thinking about everything," I said quietly, not sure where to begin. "About what happened... with Sebastian. And everything else."

Damian nodded but stayed quiet, giving me the space to talk.

"After everything that happened in the fight, losing people... It's hard to process. One minute we were celebrating graduation, and the next... we were fighting for our lives. I lost him, Damian. I don't know how to deal with that."

Damian looked down at his milkshake for a moment before meeting my eyes again. "I know. And there's nothing I can say that's going to fix that."

"I just... I feel like I failed him. And myself. I didn't get to tell him everything I needed to say, and now it's too late."

"You didn't fail him, Aria," Damian said firmly. "You fought with everything you had, and so did he. Sometimes life... life doesn't give you time for goodbyes."

I swallowed, my throat tight. "Yeah, but it's not just that. After what happened, I realized something."

Damian raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.

"I realized that life's crazy. It's unpredictable, and you never know what's going to happen next. So, I want to tell you something, Damian. I want to tell you that I forgive you."

His eyes flickered with surprise, his usual cool demeanor faltering for a moment. "Forgive me? For what?"

"For everything. For the things that happened between us before the battle, for the times I thought you were working against me. I never told you, but I forgive you. And... I'm grateful for what you did during the fight. We couldn't have won without you."

Damian was silent for a long moment, his eyes studying my face. "You don't have to thank me for that."

"I do," I insisted. "You were there for me when I needed you, and you've been here ever since. I don't think I'd be standing right now if it weren't for you."

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

"Maybe. But thank you anyway. For helping me... and for buying me a milkshake," I added with a small, genuine smile.

Damian chuckled softly. "The least I could do."

For the first time in weeks, I felt a tiny weight lift off my shoulders. Talking to Damian, getting everything off my chest... it didn't take away the pain of losing Sebastian, but it helped. Just a little.

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, sipping our milkshakes. The world outside the diner seemed far away, and for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel so lost. Maybe, just maybe, I was starting to heal.