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Always another decision made in my name.

“What was there?”

“I can’t⁠—”

My breath left me.

Not from surprise.

Just recognition.

Of course he couldn’t.

I nodded again. “Right.”

“Nyssa, listen to me.”

“I have been listening to you.”

He stopped.

“For weeks.” My voice remained quiet. “I listened when you told me I was safe here. I listened when you told me I had choices. I listened when you told me there were no cages”

Pain moved across his face.

I kept going. “I showed you the messages.”

“I know.”

“The video.”

“I know.”

“Everything he sent me.”

“I know.”

“I stood in front of you and gave you the thing I was most frightened of.”

His voice broke. “I know.”

“And I asked you for the truth.”

He came closer.

I stepped back.

That stopped him faster than screaming ever could.

“You said not yet.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“I know.”

His face changed. Maybe he expected me to fight that. I didn’t. That was the tragedy. I believed him.

“You really believe that, don’t you?”