I can't believe it. The empty room, the empty closets, the unmade bed. If he wasn't stand so close to me right now, I might have fallen onto my knees and curled into myself -- only… Only I was stronger that that. I had to be.
But I couldn't… believe my eyes.
He didn't say anything, but I could tell that he was studying the room.
"No signs of forced struggle," he offered quietly, after a while. "She left on her own."
"I know," I replied. I knew I sounded bitter, but I couldn't help it. Not when…
He was silent. And then, "You really loved her, didn't you?"
She was not beautiful, but she smiled, and easily curled her finger around my heart. Perhaps… it might have been the alcohol, but I was sure, even for a while, I had loved her.
"Y-yeah," I stuttered.
It's strange, how sometimes, the people who understand you the most are the people furthest from you. I couldn't take it anymore -- the empty room, the lack of a letter left behind(didn't runaways usually left something behind to explain?), the lack of anything inside the room I had furnished for her.
"She doesn't deserve it."
I didn't say anything. How could I?
"Lance," I started, but couldn't go on. I was feeling sick, just being in a room that reminded me of her, and…
The Dragon Master wrapped one arm around my shoulder, pulling me close to him what felt like a comforting gesture. "Let's get out of here," he suggested, and started moving me towards the door. I moved with him like a empty puppet -- what more could I do?
I glanced up at him, and he only held my gaze steady as he said, "You can cry, Steven. I'll be here."
My sight blurred.
"I'll be here," he repeated, and enfolded me in his embrace.
I lingered in his arms and cried.
owari.