5 - The night she bared her heart

My heart pounds violently, echoing in the stillness of the night like the relentless beat of war drums. Ayra has just forced me to face her—truly face her—for the first time since we started sleeping together. Until now, I had always found excuses—fatigue, distractions, anything to avoid this moment. But she's not stupid. I'm sure she noticed long ago that I struggle to fall asleep at night. And yet, for some reason, she chose this night—the last one we'll spend together—to bring it up. Maybe she was waiting for me to make the first move.

And now, face to face, the emotions I barely managed to suppress erupt with almost uncontrollable intensity. Her eyes—glossy and unwavering—lock onto mine, so luminous I can see my reflection in them. The pale glow of the Minus Moon casts a soft light on her fair skin, revealing the lingering bruises and hematomas from Clotilde's brutal training. Even after weeks, the sight of them still unsettles me.