LILA’S POV
Everything stopped.
Not just the system.
Not just the white space.
Everything.
The pressure pressing down on us froze in place, like the entire world was waiting for a single answer that hadn’t been given yet.
Final evaluation…
The words echoed, but they didn’t move forward.
They just… lingered.
Nathan’s hand was still in mine.
Tight.
Unyielding.
I could feel his pulse.
Fast.
Afraid.
But steady.
“I’m still here,” he whispered, like he was afraid saying it too loud would make me disappear.
I squeezed his hand gently.
“So am I.”
And for the first time since this started…
I believed it.
The twin inside me stirred again.
Not as a separate presence.
Not as a shadow.
As something… aligned.
“We are still here,” she corrected softly.
I let out a slow breath.
“
