Don't think. Don't think about it.

You should've known this wouldn't last!

You should never have stopped to "follow your heart." Then you wouldn't have this disappointment.

So silly to think that YOU could ever have something like that.

Petra was sick with doubt and fear. The other corsairs had already mocked her relentlessly for her mistake. The few things she would need had already been packed up and put on her ship that morning, but somehow, she hadn't been able to make herself leave. The hours had passed in a fog, faster than Petra had thought possible, and now the sun was setting and she had to go. There was no use delaying any longer, not when she didn't know what she was waiting for. It was time to go. Each step toward her ship was an agonizing step away from everything she'd ever known. Surely something would happen, someone would tell her there had been a mistake, she did not have to go, she had not lost everything yet.

And then someone was there. They had come up behind her, wrapped their strong arms around her, and whispered her name into her ear. Her name never sounded as sweet as it did when he said it. It made her heart pound.

"Uldren," she choked, not meeting his gaze, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to say goodbye," he murmured, lifting her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his eyes. She saw that they were full of tender concern. "But only for now- Petra, I promise, I will visit you in the city."

"It's not allowed."

"I don't care." he hugged her fiercely. "I'd rather be exiled with you than separated from you. I'm never going to leave you, what we've found is too rare and good to abandon. We're in love, Petra- you're mine, and no one can take you away. No one can tell us what to do or who to be."

She rested her head on his chest, letting him hold her tight and lay his head on hers. She felt so much braver, wrapped up in his arms. The patterns his fingers were tracing on her back made her feel safe and cozy. Nothing could go wrong while he held her like that, nothing, not with his hands on her face, pulling her into a comforting kiss.

"I still don't understand how this is even possible," she murmured. "It still seems so crazy. I never thought anyone would ever care about me like this. I don't even know if it's real or if I finally have gone crazy and I'm imagining all of it."

"It is real, I know I always thought the same things. Love is just crazy like that, and it's wonderful, too."

"It is," she agreed, wrapping her arms around his neck. They clung to each other, noses touching, as the sky continued to darken.

"I'm sorry, but… I was sent to make sure you left like you were supposed to," he whispered sadly. "But listen- If you just, just do what you're supposed to, she won't be mad for long. You'll be back before you know it, and everything will be fine."

She sighed. "You'll visit me?"

"As often as I can."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Fine, then, it is getting late, and I don't want to get in more trouble." she pulled away, moving slowly toward her ship.

He pulled her back into a hug, pressing his lips to her cheek. "I guess this is goodbye.

"Only for now."

"Right."

"...Bye, then."

She finally departed, her last glimpse of the Reef as she flew away being of Uldren standing where she had left him. She knew she'd been waiting all day in a desperate hope that he would come, and he had. She hadn't ruined everything. He still loved her. She understood now that she didn't have to get everything right or impress him. Love was different than she'd always thought it would be. And good thing, too.

Now, as she left behind the only home she'd ever known, she still had a hope to hold on to.