notion • john murphy

6 - PEACE

[ PEACE ]

ANY NEEDED TRANSLATIONS WILL BE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER IN THE AUTHOR NOTES.

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Sayah doesn't know what to do.

As she watches Murphy get 'comfortable' in his position with his wrists chained, she panics. She wants to say something but she doesn't know how. She's never been in a situation like this before. Why was she still chaining him up? He was anything but her prisoner. She didn't care about orders anyway. She shouldn't let him sleep like that. She shouldn't even let him stay in this cave. If she really even cared about him, she would let him—

Wait.

"I—uh—" She stammers. Murphy raises his head up to look at her. How didn't she notice how pretty he was before? Even with the dried cuts. She furrows her brows.

Something had changed. Something had changed inside her. And she didn't understand it.

"Are you alright?" Murphy asks her, concern laced in his voice. She hated it. But she also liked it. Why was he concerned? Did he care about her?

Did she care about him?

"Sayah, what is it?" Murphy stands up, approaching her as much as he can considering his wrists were shackled. Sayah stares at the ground. She can hear her blood pumping in her ears.

"Hey," Murphy whispers softly. Sayah glances up at him. Their faces were so close. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek. "What's wrong? Talk to me."

Sayah couldn't avoid his gaze. She couldn't move. What is this? Why was she acting like this? It was just Murphy. Murphy.

It was. . . Murphy.

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Murphy wants to grab her hands like he did the other night and pull her into him. He wants to tell her she doesn't have to say anything right then, because the way she's looking at him right now makes him believe she can't say anything. He wants to make her feel okay.

But he's scared.

Before he can grow the courage to just do it, she breaks the eye contact and takes a step back. Murphy feels something inside him crumble.

"I have to. . . see Lincoln." She stutters, before looking back up at him. Murphy can only watch as something in her eyes tells him it's more than that. She's realised something. He just doesn't know what.

"I'm sorry we couldn't go see the stars again tonight," She adds. "We will soon. . . promise."

Murphy's lips part. He swallows hard before looking down and nodding slowly. What had he done? Had he went too far? Was this all his fault? Did he ruin one more amazing thing in his life?

"I'll see you, Murphy." Is all she says before turning around and leaving. Just as she turns the corner, Murphy opens his mouth to speak, but it's too late.