Page 185 of Seeking Shadows

Laura stares at me for a moment, her dark eyes unreadable.

"Yes," she answers, without hesitation. "And that scares me more than any war. Because I can’t lose him, Mia."

That’s a feeling I understand.

I begged for Zane’s life. I would do it again. He is my life.

We sit there in silence, letting the night stretch around us. Then, her voice lowers, hesitant.

"I'm sorry about Katie."

My chest tightens instantly. The words steal the air from my lungs, leaving only the weight of what I’ve been avoiding.

My mother is dying. And I almost killed Zane trying to save her.

I don’t know if her words were real or just the ramblings of someone already too far gone.

I couldn’t save her, and her eyes were practically begging me not to try. She gave up. And part of me understands—but that doesn’t make it any less cruel.

And I don’t even know if I’ll get to say goodbye.

"I just…" My throat closes. I tilt my head back, staring at the dark sky, as if that will stop the tears burning behind my eyes. "I just wanted to say goodbye. I knew I couldn’t save her, but I wanted to say goodbye."

Laura doesn’t respond right away. She just watches me, her expression softer than usual.

"I understand." Her voice is low, sincere. "Saying goodbye is always the cruelest part."

There’s something in her tone—something raw. That’s when I remember.

Laura lost her mother when she was young.

She knows exactly what I’m feeling.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to contain the pain clawing at my chest. It’s useless.

"I know I can’t change anything," I whisper. "But it hurts. It hurts knowing that no matter what I do, I’m going to lose her. It hurts knowing I’m already losing her."

Laura exhales, and in an unexpected gesture, takes my hand.

Her grip is firm but not forceful. Just a quiet reminder that she’s there.

Silence stretches between us, but it’s not uncomfortable. I watch her slide her fingers over the pink petals of a flower beside us.

“Dahlias,” she murmurs. “My mother used to say they represent resilience. That you keep standing, no matter what.”

A faint smile tugs at my lips because I know that already.

"My mother used to say things like that too. She would tell me stories about the world… even though I could never see it."

It’s just a passing thought, a simple comment.

But then Laura inhales sharply.

When I glance at her, I see them—silent tears slipping down her face.

The sight knocks the breath from my lungs.

Laura. Crying.

---