Part of her wished he would simply destroy her where she sat.
Speaking through clenched teeth, she continued,
"Even if I end up even more broken than I already am, I don't care."
Her eyes never left his.
"No matter what happens to me..."
"...it would still be better than staying beside you."
In an instant...
...the fierce light vanished from his eyes.
Looking directly into that bloodless face, she continued with exhausted disgust,
"So please..."
"...make it so I never have to see you again."
It was as though those words robbed him of every last ounce of strength.
The hand that had been crushing her bones fell away limply.
Silence suffocated the room.
Only the soft crackling of the fire echoed from the fireplace.
After a long while, a dry, lifeless voice escaped his frozen lips.
"Is that..."
"...truly what you want?"
Talia opened her mouth to answer yes.
But it felt as though invisible hands were choking her.
Not a single word came out.
Hot tears welled over her eyes.
Lowering her gaze to hide them, she gave a silent nod.
"If you never see me..."
His low voice drifted down over her.
"...do you think you'll be all right?"
Pain twisted through her heart.
Forcing open the knot in her throat, Talia squeezed out a single answer.
"Yes."
He said nothing.
Talia looked at the motionless man with eyes full of resentment.
Please...
Just stop already.
How much more horrible do I have to become before you'll finally abandon me?
She stared as though trying to carve his exhausted, haggard face into her memory forever.
Then she squeezed her eyes shut and spoke roughly.
"You once said..."
"...that if it was something you were capable of doing..."
"...you would grant me anything."
"..."
"You never once kept that promise."
Emotion closed around her throat.
She had to stop speaking for a moment.
Unable to bring herself to look directly at his face, she fixed her gaze upon her pale knuckles and continued with difficulty.
"So this once..."
"...please do what I want."
"I don't want to face you anymore."
Her voice trembled.
"I can't breathe..."
"...just from seeing you."