***Aldrik***
I made it one day.
One full day of staying away from Cassius's shop, of not finding excuses to walk past, of not showing up with things he didn't need just for a chance to see him.
One day of telling myself he'd chosen Silas, that he deserved to be happy, that respecting his choice meant leaving him alone.
One day felt like dying slowly.
I spent most of it in my room at the inn, staring at the ceiling and replaying the moment Cassius had told me he was with the carpenter. The cold finality in his voice. The way he'd looked at me like I was intruding on something that had nothing to do with me anymore.
Because I was. Because it didn't.
Cassius had moved on. Had chosen someone who would treat him well, someone who hadn't spent months destroying him piece by piece. Someone better.
That was good. That was what I'd wanted for him.
The lie tasted bitter even in my own mind.
