A Life Left Behind

Rina's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "I did have a son. I was married once."

Briggs' eyes widened slightly, but he stayed quiet, waiting.

She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "But I ran away."

A pause. Then, softly, "Why?"

Rina stared at the floor, memories clawing their way back. "Because I stopped aging, and they didn't. Because I knew one day, I'd be forced to watch them grow old and die while I stayed the same."

Briggs frowned. "So you just left?"

She let out a bitter chuckle. "What was I supposed to do? Stay and pretend everything was fine? Let them realize the woman they loved was a monster who never aged?"

Silence hung between them.

Finally, Briggs sighed. "That... sounds like hell."

Rina smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "It is."