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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThey walked for a long time. The girl led him through narrow paths and unfamiliar streets. The city had changed\u2026 or maybe he had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At last, they stopped in front of an old house on the outskirts. The windows were covered, and the place seemed abandoned. The girl pointed at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stood still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His hand trembled as he reached for the handle. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind. What if it was true? What if she was alive? Then why had they buried her? Who had staged all of this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The door creaked open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside, it was dark and silent. The air smelled of dust\u2026 and something familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs anyone here\u2026?\u201d His voice faltered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stepped forward\u2026 then another\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly \u2014 a faint rustle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His heart stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A figure emerged from the shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He couldn\u2019t believe his eyes. Time seemed to freeze. Everything inside him screamed, but no sound came out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis\u2026 this can\u2019t be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was standing right there. Alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one he had survived for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one whose name he had whispered every night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But her eyes\u2026 had changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have come back,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those words hurt more than any sentence ever had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2026?\u201d He stepped closer. \u201cI thought you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat I was dead?\u201d she said with a bitter smile. \u201cIt had to be that way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His thoughts spiraled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho did this? Why? Why didn\u2019t you tell me?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was the only way to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in that moment, he understood \u2014 everything he had believed in was a lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The funeral. The tears. The farewell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for whom?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou left me to rot in there\u2026\u201d His voice hardened. \u201cYou didn\u2019t even try\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was protecting myself,\u201d she cut in sharply. \u201cAnd you too\u2026 even if you don\u2019t understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silence fell between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then she whispered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey were watching us. If you had learned the truth earlier\u2026 you wouldn\u2019t be alive now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A cold wave ran through him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho\u2026 are \u2018they\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked at him \u2014 and for the first time, fear flickered in her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s already too late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that exact moment, the door slammed shut behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n