Nancy lifted the photo from her desk, her fingers shaking as they glided along its edges.
This was their first photo together, captured on the day of their unofficial date. Tyson had taken on the role of her tour guide, strolling through the streets of Elria with his charming boyish grin, revealing every secret nook of the city as if it were his personal playground.
The day she kissed him for the first time.
A tired smile lingered on her lips, but her red-rimmed eyes revealed a different story. The room around her felt almost empty, stripped of any warmth, with only the large suitcase sprawled open on her bed as a sign of life.
She was in the midst of packing. She was preparing to leave.
A new wave of tears threatened to spill, but she held them back. Just minutes ago, she had argued with her mother, pleading with her to stay behind in Elria and not follow her to Babylon. But her mother was too stubborn—just like Tyson.