The door went up.

  The alarm went down.

  The timer went around.

  And all the crowd cheered.

  As soon as peace was found.

  Mal coughed.

  Coughed.

  Spat blood.

  Coughed.

  He couldn’t hear.

  He couldn’t think.

  But breathe.

  He could breathe.

  He

  he was

  still

  alive

  ?

  He then

  saw

  the violinist

  crumbling down

  on her knees.

  Mimi let

  her violin fall.

  She let

  herself crumple.

  In tears.

  Broken.

  Sobbing.

  Like a little kid.

  Her hands

  on her sightless eyes.

  She did it.

  Like the old hag said.

  She did it.

  And she cried.

  Because she wanted her

  to be there

  to hug her

  to take comfort

  in her scent of tobacco

  in the touch of her forehead

  in the warmth of her arms.

  But that was

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  impossible.

  She was gone.

  She wasn’t there.

  To see her succeed.

  And that made her feel

  even more

  broken.

  Mal saw the gate

  rising up

  as the last thing

  before his mind

  went to rest.

  Hazmat suits.

  Keepers in armor.

  And.

  In their midst.

  Her.

  Dashing.

  Dazzling.

  Shining.

  So he

  just gave up

  and finally fell

  into a slumber.

  Mimi still crying.

  On her knees.

  Without end.

  Drenched in her sweat.

  In her tears.

  Till.

  She.

  Felt it.

  Something.

  A hug.

  Warm.

  Scent of flowers.

  “A… aunt… Caro? A… aunt C… Caro? Is… it you?”

  She sobbed.

  She cried.

  Like the kid that died that day.

  “I… I can’t… I can’t see you. I…”

  She hugged

  back.

  “…negative. I’m…”

  “Prim…?”

  “Correct.”

  Prim was hugging Kryzalid.

  No, not Kryzalid.

  Mimi.

  As soon as the door opened.

  As soon as the emergency ended.

  She went to her.

  She enclosed her

  in her arms.

  As Mal taught her

  At the mall.

  Hugs feel good.

  And with all those tears.

  She really looked like

  She needed one.

  Despite being

  a criminal.

  “You kept your promise.”

  Prim whispered.

  Trembling.

  “You can have…

  all of my lymph…

  even now.”

  Mimi squeezed her, squeezed her with all her fading strength.

  “Prim… I… I…

  I just… I just want to go back in time to that day in the greenhouse!

  The day… the day we met!

  I want to talk with you there, instead… instead of running away!

  And… and ask you… out! As… as a friend! E… even just as a friend!

  I want to go places with you and … and my other friends!

  Singing, dancing… all together!

  Then… then…

  I want… I want to bring you to Aralu… so that you can meet my aunt… my aunt…

  My aunt Caro… aunt…

  Aunt Caro. A... aunt Caroooo!”

  She swallowed her tears, rivers running out of her eyes.

  ”Ha… ha… then… then… have dinner, joke, watch PV together. Have… have a sleepover at my place, maybe?”

  Sobs. Uncontrollable sobs, shaking her from the core.

  “If I did, maybe… If I was stronger that day… maybe… I… things would have…”

  Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Cry.

  “I… don’t want your lymph. I don’t want anyone’s lymph! I just want… I just want my innocence back!”

  She felt Prim’s hand on her hair, on her cheek. Warm. She was warm.

  Silence fell. Punctured by sobs. Slowly stopping. Slowly. Stopping.

  A tired smile, among the fading tears.

  Time doesn’t tick backwards.

  Only forward.

  The deed was done.

  She had.

  To move on.

  “Hey, Prim…?”

  “…Mimi?”

  Mimi rubbed her forehead

  against hers.

  “…your touch…”

  before her senses started to dull

  “…is so soft…”

  and she let herself lull in Prim’s arms

  just a little longer.