The sun was still up and bright outside, but inside

poken since

The soft sound of it still echoed in his mind. Not b

t like th

clear. It h

was not

little and placed bo

want to thi

ind kept

oked at him like she was not afraid. To the

ike someone tryin

hide behind fake

t. Like she had walked into something s

did... something in

ried to

ting alone,

had react

rous way. But in a way

ood up in

ew her bef

closed

ut a slo

came back-sharp,

d not s

-

yea

. A voice that

Snow covered the ground in thick, clean la

urned his brea

s were c

rt was

aid. Her voice sounding so soft, but it felt l

r. He wanted to say

rds refuse

hest. The bond that had formed between them.

ne," he finally said. His v

looke

back

" she replied. "But I never

e place, but deep inside,he felt like t

that was the loudest sound

ly find someone els

not," Dami

eant

e pull. The bo

he ha

. she had

d and wal

Her footprints followed her li

in the snow long

d not

r a lo

y he stopped be

day he became

-

o

wood

opened

past had not stayed in the past. Like the feelin

ow it

e

re

owly and walke

and on the glas

ietly at the city, but he wa

something strange form i

pa

lo

t

methin

ugh to make him

not do th

when someone like him loses, i

aks th

ain and let his head

f was q

ot as

as a

it

chi

meant o

had alread

t be able to st

is mind was working fast. Too fast. He sat back down at his desk

ed at n

uld f

as not loud. It was not clear. Bu

e moment she walk

did not open them. He could not focus. No

lence was holding its breath again. Like it had bee

screen and leaned

open, but his th

oss from him like she belonged there. She had not acted like s

at made her

was not tryi

rying to stan

ust being

had pulled at so

n was not that kind. It gave once, and if it was b

hat he had

no

was this

as not g

the far wall. His hand brushed over the edge of an old book. It

ies from his c

always stay

it open an

orest. There was a shadow in the trees ahead. The shadow

tory

y come. But it will not come ea

at the words f

e book and p

essing against his chest n

of something he h

d that

his life buil

control w

se of

of Ser

e beginning of a second bond-then

already

ck, a little s

his hands for a very long moment. They were steady. Strong.

ere not st

to

afte

looking up at the ceiling. It was smooth, dark and quiet-just like every

ow he had

ot wante

wanted

t was not wo

thing with her when she left. He did not

the space sh

ot admit i

en to

bout her felt l

had never bee

minutes. Then he decided to stand up and he walked out o

ded to

that-he need

he bond had

he had built was

s made no sound on the clean floor. The lights above gave off a soft

me as

everything fe

was allowed. The doors here stayed locked. Not bec

in this place eve

kept his pa

e of them and lo

d over the handle

ied to forget. Old letters. Old scents

me here when

not need re

ded co

down the hall. He returned to his private quarters-a dar

e was cl

a

the bed and just let the

not want to feel

ag

d already

growing between

stop it by

not stop