GOODBYE
804 Words
A few days had passed.
Maren grew weaker with each day.
Most of the time, she stayed in bed.
Liyana rarely left her side.
She brought her water.
Helped her sit up whenever she needed to cough.
Read to her when she was awake.
Sometimes they talked.
Sometimes they didn't.
The cottage had become strangely quiet.
They both knew what was coming.
Neither wanted to say it.
One morning, Maren woke feeling different.
Not better.
Just...
Stronger enough to sit up without help.
Liyana noticed immediately.
“You're sitting up.”
Maren smiled.
“I am.”
Liyana's eyes brightened.
“Maybe you're getting better.”
Maren's smile faded for just a moment.
She knew that look.
Hope.
She reached for Liyana's hand.
“Liyana.”
Liyana looked at her.
“Yes?”
Maren gently squeezed her fingers.
“You don't have to be afraid to let me go.”
Liyana immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“Don't say that.”
“Liyana, listen to me.”
She looked down.
Tears were already filling her eyes.
Maren waited until she looked back at her.
“You've spent so much time trying to save me.”
“I know.”
“You searched everywhere.”
“I would do it again.”
“I know you would.”
Maren smiled.
“But sometimes...”
She took a slow breath.
“Sometimes loving someone means accepting what you can't change.”
Liyana's lips trembled.
“I don't want to.”
“I know.”
Maren lifted a weak hand and touched Liyana's cheek.
“You remember what I always told you?”
Liyana nodded.
“That kindness isn't weakness.”
“Yes.”
“That your rank doesn't decide your worth.”
Liyana swallowed.
“Yes.”
“That no one gets to decide how much you're worth.”
Her tears finally fell.
Maren gently wiped one away.
“And what happened with Kael...”
Liyana stiffened.
“You are not less because he rejected you.”
“I know.”
Maren gave her a look.
“Do you?”
Liyana couldn't answer.
Maren continued softly.
“You deserve love.”
“You deserve respect.”
“You deserve to be happy.”
Liyana lowered her head.
“I don't know if I can be happy again.”
Maren took her hand.
“You will.”
Liyana shook her head.
“I don't know how.”
Maren smiled.
“You don't have to know how yet.”
She squeezed her hand.
“Just keep living.”
Liyana looked at her.
Maren's voice became softer.
“Promise me something.”
Liyana nodded through her tears.
“What?”
“Live.”
Liyana's face crumpled.
“Don't stop living because of me.”
“I can't.”
“You can.”
Maren gently touched her face again.
“You are stronger than you think.”
Liyana leaned forward and buried her face against her aunt.
Maren wrapped her arms around her.
“I’m proud of you.”
Inside the Wolf Realm...
Nova sat beside Aster.
The Wolf Realm was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
Aster's silver fur seemed thinner than before.
Little silver lights drifted slowly from her body.
Nova stared at them.
Her ears lowered.
‘You’re getting weaker.’
Aster looked at her.
‘Yes.’
Nova's eyes filled with tears.
‘I don’t want you to go.’
Aster gave her a gentle smile.
‘None of us stay forever.’
Nova lowered her head.
Aster moved closer and gently touched noses with her.
‘Take care of our girl.’
Nova nodded.
‘I will.’
‘I promise.’
Aster smiled.
‘And take care of yourself, little one.’
Nova's eyes closed.
A quiet whimper escaped her.
Evening arrived.
The cottage was quiet.
Maren lay beneath the blankets.
Liyana sat beside her, holding her hand.
Her breathing had become slower.
More shallow.
Liyana didn't let go.
Maren opened her eyes.
She looked at Liyana.
For a moment, there was nothing but love in her expression.
“I love you.”
Liyana broke.
“I love you too.”
Maren smiled.
Her eyes slowly closed.
Her breathing became softer.
Slower.
Then...
It stopped.
Liyana stared at her.
“Maren?”
Nothing.
She squeezed her hand.
“Maren?”
Still nothing.
Inside the Wolf Realm...
Aster looked at Nova one last time.
Then her body began dissolving into silver light.
Nova reached toward her.
‘Aster…’
The silver light slipped through her paws.
Aster disappeared.
Silence.
Liyana remained beside the bed.
Still holding Maren's hand.
She didn't cry.
She simply sat there.
The room felt too quiet.
The cottage felt too empty.
Inside her mind...
Nova curled beside her.
Neither of them spoke.
For the first time in her life...
Liyana truly knew what it meant to be alone.
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