The moonlight slashed through the window of Elias’s study as I paced back and forth, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. The weight of the decision ahead felt unbearable.
"What's it going to be, Lena?" Elias’s voice broke through the turmoil in my mind. I looked up to find him standing by the door, his posture tense, his expression unreadable. The uncertainty in his eyes mirrored mine.
“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I can’t make this choice. Not when I know what’s at stake.”
Elias crossed the room in three long strides, his broad shoulders filling the space between us as he reached out to gently take my hands in his. The warmth of his touch steadied me, grounding my chaotic thoughts for just a moment.
“You don’t have to do this alone,” he said softly. “Whatever you decide, I’ll
