Half?! I'll give you all of it. Or maybe not all of it. Okay then, 85 percent, Sure! I can give you that much

You really are amazing. You're able to overturn the law of equivalent exchange so easily

She smiled as the scene flashed back into her memory. Still remembered how nervous she was at that moment, trying to assimilate what it meant to give her whole life to another person. More so when that person was the boy she had known all her life and who until not long ago felt in love with. The same boy who was so stubborn and proud that had to use alchemy to talk about his feelings.

He left on a trip? Why don't he settle down a little?

It´s fine. Men who keep still are no fun

Maybe that was what made her fall in love, his determination to do what he sets out to do. The same way he dedicated his life to recovering his brother's body, the same way he went to save the country that day, the same way he burned down his house to take a path she knew she couldn't change.

It made sense, until she remembered what that old lady respond to her on the train station.

A man who is not a professional traveler cannot spend his whole life moving around. Just someone who doesn't know what he wants yet

Barely a month after Edward left west to continue his quest for the secrets of alchemy, Winry had decided to return to Rush Valley to finish her training as an automail apprentice. On one hand, she did it because she felt that the knowledge, she needed to be a professional mechanic was insufficient to be independent. The years working as a child with Grandma Pinako, plus the time of helping Mr. Garfiel had made her almost an expert young mechanic. She was aware of this, and for that reason she hurried to finish her studies so that she could have her own business without depending on anyone.

But on the other hand, she did it because of fear. Because despite having advanced, she was neglecting her automail work more because she was spending her time with the Elric brothers. And it was nothing new, they had finally recovered their bodies, all their nightmare since Mrs. Trisha died ended and their lives seemed to take the course they deserved. They were finally going to stop running away from home.

Or at least she thought that in the beginning. The wonderful months that the three of them had spent together after the Promised Day broke like a plate that had just fallen to the ground. Both brothers decided to continue their traveling around the world, but this time with the aim of learning more. Alphonse, as an alchemist, had the enthusiasm of being able to collect new forms of alchemy in Xing that he did not know yet. She was happy for him, years locked in a metallic body prevented him from experiencing the world like everyone else. He is not the one who had problems with, but with Ed.

Was he in love with her? Until now she didn't know. Anyone would have expected that if he really felt something, he would have told her in all that time they were together in Resembool. But it didn't happen. Yes, they spent time together, with Al, like the old days, like siblings doing housework or chatting about trifles. But a serious talk between the two, no.

She was about to think that he felt absolutely nothing, when he suddenly said those words to her at the train station the day he was leaving to West. It was so strange until she herself realized what it meant to Give half of my life. It was like a dream that she couldn't assimilate. And as a naive girl she thought that he would take her with her, that he would cancel his trip to stay with her forever, or that he would only give her a kiss... But also no, he hugged her, as he would hug his brother or friends. It felt good but felt like it wasn't enough.

She spent days trying to figure out what that whole scene meant. Was it a confession? A hint? A simple farewell to friends? It wasn't until she talked to grandma Pinako that she was able to come up with an answer that made sense, but at the same time it left her more confused.

"Military men have a particular way of saying goodbye. They expect their wives to wait for them the entire time they are at war. As if it were a promise from both to see each other again once their mission was over." said Pinako.

"But there is not a war anymore! Why wait to be together if we are no longer in danger?"

Pinako was silent for a while thinking about her answer. "Maybe he's not sure what he wants yet, maybe that's why he went on a trip."

The same answer the old lady told her.

Now it was Winry who was silent. "It's not fair."

She kept thinking it wasn't fair. Since she was a child, she always waited for him. She was the one who stayed on the terrace of her house the first nights looking at the dirt road on the horizon, hoping that two figures would appear in her direction. She was the one who had nightmares about something bad happening to them. She had lost her parents, and she didn't want to feel that horrible feeling that eats at her every time she remembers it. Loneliness.

"Winry dear, I'm going out, take care of the workshop" Garfiel's shout made her wake up from her thoughts almost like a midnight scare. She had forgotten that she was propped up in her arms on what looked like a half-finished metal arm. "Okay Mr. Garfiel" was the only thing she could reply, with a voice so calm that it is most likely that his guardian had not heard it.

The momentary thoughts she had about Edward and her past prevented her many times from concentrating on her work, so much so that she could spend minutes and even hours staring at her in the emptiness of the old walls of the mechanic shop. In what she believed, building and repairing automail was the only thing that kept her mind occupied, but the reality is that it was just a lie that she already discovered.

One year, she cursed herself. A damn year and not a letter from you crazy alchemist.

Only the first three weeks was where she heard from him. About how she had contacted an acquaintance of his who operated in Crete to guide him through the country, about his crossing through the first nearby towns on the border, and that's it. That was the last time she knew something about him, because after that he did not send a letter signed to her again, nor did he make a call. At first, she thought it was because the military was prohibited from contacting their relatives on an ongoing basis as a rule, that's how it was when they first entered the army. But it is assumed that Ed no longer belongs there, that trip is on his and Al's initiative to learn more about alchemy. In other words, it's a personal trip for them, like a vacation but from time-to-time lock themselves in the library.

Perhaps this was what had bothered her so much in recent days, concluding that she had been deluded by words that in the end meant nothing to him. She wanted to believe that it wasn't like that. She hoped the reason why he didn't talk to her was because the investigation kept him busy, that so many loads of new information a day didn't give him the energy to even pick up the phone and call her. But all those complacent excuses were belied every time she received a letter of Al from Xing, recounting how his relationship with May was growing and the new books she was discovering.

She wanted to cry, again, but this time she managed to keep the tears from her eyes. It was so hard for her to deal with this. As if she were chained, restricted not to think about anything else, forbidden to betray that promise that seemed increasingly empty while he did who knows what without anyone knowing. Because yes, it also crossed her mind that he had found a girl on his solitary trips, a woman who had been the cause of why he no longer calls or writes. The fear sometimes grew when she considered that this situation was quite probable. He was young, a renowned alchemist, whose name was written among the heroes who saved Amestris. He was almost like bait for any attractive young girl, and that made her feel even more insecure.

All this made her doubt if Ed had broken her promise to wait for the two of them, if it was worth trying to keep the promise, because at least she was fulfilling it.

Rush Valley was a poor town, and that caused the only source of work to be automail. For that reason, it was infested with men on every corner. Therefore, it is not surprising the great surprise that its people took when suddenly a young, beautiful lady, very passionate about mechanics, stays to live and work with them. It was like a light that came to illuminate their lives. From the first day Winry received the friendliest and warmest welcome a girl could receive, everyone behaved in such a friendly manner that it was not difficult for her to make friends. Friends that she unknowingly needed.

But she wasn't so naive as not to notice. From the moment she arrived from her she realized that the men of the town were friendly because they tried to flirt with her. It was obvious to notice in her attitudes and the way she talked, she seemed like a magnet for pointless conversations every day. But she decided to accept it and take advantage of it. Because behind so much attention was the opportunity to make friends. It was an opportunity for her to meet new people, friends that she lacked and that she needed.

She dedicated herself to drawing the first sketches of a new automail during the following hours. She was an expert in doing her job and having her mind orbiting other things, she had gotten used to it. Everything was so routine.

"Hey hey, how is my boss doing?"

Winry turns to give her visitor a smile and go back to her draw. "You? I thought today was your day off" she said as she continued drawing the specifications of the mechanical arm.

"That's how it was, because in case you didn't notice, we're already at night"

The blonde looks out the window and confirmed it, she had been glued to the paper for almost the whole day since noon. Still, it felt like she hasn't made any progress. She let out a sigh as she leaned back in her chair. "Ugh, I wasted a day and didn't finish a damn arm."

He approaches her to see the drawing on the table. He picks it up and looks at it. "It's true, you usually do this in less time." Winry sighs again in response as she rubs her eyes tiredly, she couldn't believe that every day she was more unproductive with the simplest things in her job.

"What Garfiel said was true, then? You're not okay." he said as he put the blueprints on the table and looked at her. She decides to look back at him while narrowing her eyes disapprovingly.

"Don't bother me, you know why I'm like this." said the mechanic as she took the papers to continue with the drawing of the plans. He looks at her for a few seconds without responding when he decides to carry out his traditional therapeutic talks with her, so he decides to find a chair and sits next to the mechanic. "I already told you that you don't have to mortify yourself, you just have to talk to him."

"I know, I know that everything would be resolved with a simple phone call. You've told me thousands of times" Winry said as she put down the pencil again and lightly tapped the table with her forearms. "But it's not me who should clear things up."

"Of course not, you are not the one who has left doubts in your head."

"But I can't go on with this" she replied with an almost sad voice. "Every time I think I have the answer, some memory or fear comes to mind, and I question again if he feels something for me. And every day that passes is worse" her voice now seemed somewhat tearful when she said it. "I am doing something wrong?" she asked almost begging for an answer.

"No, absolutely not. It's not your fault that he wasn't brave enough to tell you how he feels." he said almost immediately. "Listen Win, don't hurt yourself by thinking about this all the time. Garfiel, Paninya and even the clients already realized that it's affecting you. Nobody wants to see you like this." He told her from the heart as he rubbed her bare back only covered with her black tube top.

She lowered her head again and looking at her hands thinking about what he said. She hasn't realized that her clients had noticed her state of mind. And the truth is that this statement worried her because the compliment she always received from her male clients was that she was the most cheerful and charismatic girl in town. Then she seems to realize that her attitude in general had changed a lot in the last few days.

He stopped rubbing her back as he put his arm around her shoulders. "How about if I make you a cup of tea and we continue talking in the kitchen. Leave the drawing for tomorrow."

She looked at the almost finished work and returned the look with a half-smile. "Yeah, I think that would be nice. Thanks."

She had only known him less than any of her other friends she had and, even the brothers, but his assertiveness made her friendship more trustworthy than she ever had with someone from Rush Valley. She went into the kitchen and sat down at the table. It didn't take long for him to have the glass of tea, and he had made one himself.

"Did Al call you?" he told her as she took a sip.

"This morning. But we didn't talk too much, he just told me Xing's latest news" she said doing the same.

"I heard that the new king is going to take over soon," he said. She nodded, to tell the truth she already knew before Al told her, but still he was kind enough to call her even for that and she appreciated it. But it was also true that his calls also began to be less frequent, which made her sadder even more.

After taking another sip, he turned to her. "Win, I don't like seeing you like this. Nobody likes it. Paninya told me that she doesn't come to visit you anymore because you don't listen to her when she talks to you. Hey" he said as the mechanic was looking at her rate.

"I heard you," she said calmly. "And yes, all this is hurting me."

They both fell silent as they continued to drink their glasses. Her friend's concern was enough for him to take her hand across the table and comfort her. She looked at him and smiled, appreciating the gesture.

"I think I'll leave it," she said. "I'll stop waiting for a call or something from him. There's no point worrying about someone who doesn't care about me." She was honest with herself, she needed to make a before her mind make her jobless and friendless. She was in a situation that she needed to change.

"Are you sure?"

She was silent. She wasn't, she didn't want to. But she couldn't let this go on like this. "I'm sure I have to focus on myself and my work. He was and still is an important part of my life. But I can't dedicate all my sighs for a miracle to happen. I'm tired." She answered.

And lowered the empty cup of tea. Her somewhat trembling hands reflect her fear but her look the desire to not being weak and vulnerable. Her heart, however, was unsure.

"I need to live"