The hours slipped by like water through trembling fingers.

  Afternoon sank into evening, and evening drifted toward night. The military base, once buzzing with the noise of training and movement, grew quiet—too quiet for Ethan’s restless mind.

  Sofia stayed with him the entire time.

  She didn’t hover.

  She didn’t force conversation.

  She simply existed beside him—steady, present, warm.

  Ethan lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling, his mind looping the same brutal sentence:

  Unfit for duty.

  He had been through firefights that turned sand to glass.

  He had crawled through smoke and chaos.

  He had held dying hands and made impossible decisions.

  But nothing—nothing—had hit him like those four words.

  His breathing grew shallow.

  Sofia noticed instantly and placed a gentle hand on his chest.

  “Breathe,” she whispered. “With me.”

  He closed his eyes.

  Inhale.

  Exhale.

  Slowly, his heartbeat steadied under her palm.

  She stayed like that for a long time, grounding him, tethering him back to the moment every time he drifted toward the dark spiral inside his mind.

  The room’s dim light made her look like something soft and impossible—something he didn’t deserve but couldn’t stop reaching for.

  When Ethan finally spoke, his voice was hoarse.

  “What time is it?”

  Sofia glanced at the clock.

  “Ten-thirty.”

  He exhaled slowly. “You need to call them soon.”

  Her fingers tightened around his.

  “I know.”

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  Another silence—long, fragile.

  Ethan turned his head toward her, eyes reflecting a mix of vulnerability and determination.

  “Don’t delay it because of me,” he whispered. “Don’t stay because I’m broken.”

  Sofia flinched and touched his cheek gently.

  “You’re not broken. You’re injured. There’s a difference.”

  He gave a small, bitter smile. “That’s what they say right before they take your purpose away.”

  Sofia’s heart ached painfully.

  She slid closer, resting her forehead on his shoulder.

  “I don’t want to go if it means leaving you alone in this,” she whispered.

  Ethan’s throat worked as he swallowed hard.

  “And I don’t want you to resent me in five years because you gave up Florence.”

  Their breaths mingled.

  Their fears tangled.

  Their futures collided.

  Ethan forced a steadier voice. “Sofia… promise me something.”

  She lifted her head slightly. “What?”

  “No matter what you choose—choose it for you. Not out of guilt. Not out of fear. Not because you feel responsible for me.”

  She stared at him, eyes shimmering.

  “And what if what I choose because of me is you?” she whispered.

  Ethan closed his eyes, visibly fighting the emotion rising in him.

  “Sofia…”

  She touched his jaw, guiding him gently to look at her.

  “Let me love you without conditions,” she said softly.

  His breath shakily escaped.

  He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers again—his anchor, his shelter, his impossible miracle.

  But before he could speak, a knock sounded on the door.

  Both froze.

  Then Camila stepped inside.

  Her expression softened when she saw them.

  “Sorry,” she said quietly. “I just… wanted to check on you both.”

  Ethan managed a small nod. “I’m okay.”

  Camila didn’t believe him, but she didn’t push it.

  Instead, she turned to Sofia.

  “Can we talk for a moment? Outside?”

  Sofia hesitated, glancing at Ethan.

  He nodded gently. “Go. I’ll be here.”

  She squeezed his hand once, then followed Camila into the hallway.

  The moment the door closed, Camila exhaled sharply and leaned against the wall.

  “You’re running out of time, Sofia.”

  “I know,” Sofia whispered.

  “You have a life-changing opportunity waiting for you. And you also have Ethan.”

  Sofia’s voice trembled. “I don’t know how to choose.”

  Camila’s tone softened. “You’re not choosing one life over another. You’re choosing which version of yourself you want to step into right now.”

  Sofia blinked hard, tears building.

  Camila continued gently, “Listen. I’ve known Ethan for years. And what he needs most right now is stability. Someone who believes in him. Someone who won’t leave.”

  Sofia’s breath quickened. “But if I choose him, I’m giving up Florence. My dream. My career.”

  “And if you choose Florence,” Camila said softly, “you’re not abandoning him—you’re trusting he’s strong enough to find his way without leaning entirely on you.”

  Sofia felt torn open.

  Camila placed a hand on her arm.

  “Here’s the part no one likes to admit,” she whispered. “There is no perfect choice. Just the one you’re willing to build a future from.”

  Sofia swallowed painfully.

  “But what would you do?” she whispered.

  Camila hesitated.

  Then gave a sad, honest smile.

  “I already made my choice,” she said softly. “Years ago. I put the military above my heart. And I lost him.”

  Sofia’s breath caught.

  Camila looked away, voice trembling for the first time.

  “I don’t regret serving my country… but I do regret not fighting harder for the people I loved.”

  Sofia stared at her, feeling her chest tighten.

  Camila met her gaze again.

  “You have something rare with him. Don’t throw it away lightly. And don’t cling to it out of fear.” She stepped back. “Whatever you decide—own it.”

  Sofia nodded slowly, overwhelmed.

  Camila gave her a small, encouraging smile before returning to the room.

  Sofia stayed in the hallway, breathing hard.

  She looked at her phone.

  10:58 PM.

  Her deadline was close enough to taste.

  Her hands were trembling.

  Her heart was a warzone.

  And she had to take a step toward her future—one way or another—in the next hour.

  She returned to the room.

  Ethan looked up immediately when she entered, eyes searching hers for answers she didn’t yet have.

  She sat beside him silently.

  He took her hand.

  For a long time, they just looked at each other—two people standing at the edge of a cliff, terrified to fall and terrified not to.

  Then Sofia whispered,

  “I need to step outside and make the call.”

  Ethan’s chest rose sharply—fear, sadness, acceptance.

  He nodded slowly.

  “Okay.”

  She stood on unsteady legs.

  He didn’t reach for her.

  Didn’t hold her back.

  Didn’t demand anything.

  He simply whispered,

  “No matter what you choose… I love you.”

  A tear slid down her cheek.

  “I love you too,” she whispered.

  Then she turned and walked toward the door.

  Every step felt like her lungs were closing.

  She stepped into the hallway.

  Closed the door behind her.

  Held the phone in her shaking hands.

  The world seemed to quiet around her.

  She inhaled.

  Exhaled.

  And dialed Italy.

  The ring sounded once.

  Twice.

  Three times.

  And just before the fourth…

  A voice answered.

  “Sofia? Are you calling with your final decision?”

  Sofia closed her eyes.

  And finally—

  She spoke.