"You do know how hard it to say goodbye, to truly mean it? Especially if to a person who is worthier than anything you've ever valued?"
"I know."
"Why are you leaving, then?"
His footsteps died down abruptly, and without facing her, he said; "Because I have to."
"Then you're burning this bridge utterly."
He turned to her sharply, his dark hair whipping around in the wind. "Why are you doing this to me, Reyna?"
Reyna stared back at him, not wilting under his intense glare. There was a steely gleam in her eyes. "I never asked you that when you were about twenty feet away from me, walking away. You could have told me you had enough. You could have said to me how tiring this is, whatever this is, whatever we are. But what you did, turning your back on me without even saying a word. . ."
Her voice trailed off. He faltered, right then and there.
Something about Nico di Angelo reminded Reyna of angels. Every time she would look at him, the peacefulness he exudes in her presence, she could already envision him spreading his brilliantly white wings, and soar off to the sky. Even his surname meant, 'The Angel'.
But there was another side of him. Reyna knew that, as she has one herself. She also knew that that just by a mention of her name, it could silence his demons. Just as his name did to hers.
That's what he was. A beautiful paradox. Imperfectly perfect.
And now her angel was flying away, up to the heavens.
"Reyna. . ."
Fists clenched tightly, she gazed intently at her feet. Being a demigod was complicated enough. And being with Nico. . . what were they, really? No wonder he wants to leave. The fact that Reyna's curse, her burden, existed, was the cause of all this hurting. Yes, he'll leave, another might come after she's done some healing, but will she expect that person to stay? Or any of the other people she'll come to love?
You will not find love where you wish or where you hope. No demigod shall heal your heart.
She felt weak. Completing the missing piece of your happiness was tiresome. Especially with the knowledge that despite all your efforts, your endeavors are futile.
You do know how hard it is to say goodbye, to truly mean it? Especially if to a person who is worthier than anything you've ever valued?
Those words fell from her own lips. "Be safe in your ascent, then, my angel."
He knew.
Fifteen. Ten. Five. He was a foot away from her now. "Reyna."
A tear rolled across her cheek. She looked up to the heavens. "This is what I have to do, am I correct? To set him free."
To set me free from all my suffering.
"I don't want either of us struggling to get back what we left behind," Nico took her hands, and fixed his gaze on hers. "I was selfish. By trying to turn my back on you."
Heavy silence swept over them like a blanket. The setting sun behind Nico made him look like he had a halo.
"I can't have you do this to me, to us."
Reyna's facade of bravery crumbled to the ground as soon as those words hung in the air. She had the nerve to believe she had the courage to let him go like that, without even turning to look back. To just go on like she felt no doubt in her choice. She was a fool to think regrets wouldn't follow after she made her decision.
All of a sudden, she knew what the answer was to her question.
=*=*=
I have no idea what I was thinking the whole time I wrote this. ●︿●
