Eli
I locked the door shut behind me.
Hours passed before I returned, carrying a tray of food and water. I'd made sure it wasn't too cold or too hot; it was just right, just how she liked it. She looked smaller under the harsh light, fragile in a way that made my chest ache. I set the tray on the table, keeping my gaze down.
"I don't want you to be hungry," I murmured. "You need your strength."
When I turned to leave again, her voice stopped me. She was trembling, "Eli… please… why me?"
I paused at the door. I didn't have to think about the answer.
Without looking back, I said softly, "Because you're the only one who's real."
The lights flickered once, twice, and I walked away, leaving her in silence.
But even as I locked the door again, I could still hear her voice in my head. I c
