10#10

10

There was no time for concern about him. I gazed at Killian, a flood of words ready to spill, but I realized he had already gathered all the scattered drawings without my notice.

Treating them like precious artifacts, he gently dusted them off and presented them to me. "These pieces are valuable; they deserve proper preservation."

I accepted the artwork in a state of bewilderment, my eyes brimming with tears as familiar scenes replayed in my mind.

Killian, the offspring of a patriotic general, had grown up alongside his father in military service.

He dedicated himself to combat training while I immersed myself in scholarly pursuits.

One was full of energy, the other serene, forming a perfect balance.

Whenever I engaged in music, writing, or painting, he would observe attentively, offering praise and assistance in preserving my creations.

These intentionally buried memories resurfaced, and I looked at Killian with a mixture of hurt and longing.