CH.13

The dark streets were quiet, save for the occasional hum of a passing hovercraft. Celeste's footsteps echoed softly against the wet pavement as she made her way to her destination, her bag slung over her shoulder and LYRA humming faintly in her hand. The relic, tucked securely within her pack, pulsed faintly, its glow seeping through the fabric like a heartbeat.

Her thoughts churned as she walked, the questions swirling in her mind offering no respite. The coordinates burned in her memory, but the path ahead remained uncertain, shrouded in both hope and fear. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the figure stepping out from the shadows until he was directly in her path.

"Celeste."

She froze, her breath catching as her eyes met his. He was tall, with dark hair that curled slightly at the edges and a face that carried the weight of too many sleepless nights. His hazel eyes, sharp and piercing, softened as they took her in. He looked exactly as she remembered—and yet, he felt different, like a distant echo of the man she used to know.

"Liam," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart raced, a mix of shock, guilt, and something she couldn't quite name flooding her senses. "What are you doing here?"

He stepped closer, his movements careful, deliberate. "I could ask you the same thing. It's been weeks, Celeste. You disappeared without a word. I had to hear from Alina that you were even still in the city."

Celeste's chest tightened. She had avoided him on purpose, throwing herself into her work and the endless quest for answers as a way to numb the pain she couldn't face. Seeing him now brought it all crashing back—the memories, the love they had shared, and the hollow space Ethan had left behind, a space she had tried to fill but never truly could.

"I've been busy," she said, the words weak even to her own ears. She glanced away, unable to hold his gaze. "There's… a lot I've been dealing with."

"I know," he said softly, his voice tinged with sadness. "I know you're going through a lot. But, Celeste, shutting everyone out—it's not going to make it any easier."

She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "What would you know about it, Liam? You're not the one who lost everything."

His jaw tightened, his shoulders stiffening ever so slightly. "Maybe not in the same way, but that doesn't mean I don't care. It doesn't mean I'm not trying to be here for you."

Celeste's fingers tightened around LYRA, her knuckles whitening. The device hummed faintly, a quiet reminder of Ethan's unseen presence. She glanced down at it, the weight of her grief pressing down like an iron band around her chest. "I can't do this right now," she said, her voice barely audible.

"Celeste—" Liam reached out as if to stop her, but his hand hovered in the air, unsure. "Please don't push me away again. I know I'll never be Ethan—I'm not trying to be. But you're not alone in this. You don't have to carry it all by yourself."

Her head snapped up, her eyes blazing. "Don't say his name," she said, her voice trembling with both anger and sorrow. "You don't get to say his name like you understand what it means. Like you understand what I lost."

Liam flinched, his expression a mixture of pain and frustration. "I know I can't replace him, Celeste. I would never try. But just because he's gone doesn't mean you have to lose yourself too."

She felt her resolve cracking, the walls she had built around her grief crumbling under the weight of his words. Tears welled in her eyes, and she turned away, unable to let him see her break. "You don't understand," she whispered. "He's not gone. He's still here… somehow. I can feel it."

Liam took a step closer, his voice gentle but firm. "Is that why you've been chasing these relics? Why you've locked yourself away in that studio for weeks on end? Hoping to find him again?"

Celeste hesitated, her fingers brushing against her bag where the relic rested. "It's more than hope," she said finally. "It's real. I know it is."

He studied her for a long moment, his hazel eyes searching hers. "And what if it's not?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if you're chasing something that will only hurt you more?"

Her heart ached at his words, but she couldn't bring herself to answer. The truth was, she didn't know what she would do if it wasn't real—if this desperate search for answers led to nothing but emptiness. But she also knew she couldn't stop. Not now. Not when she was so close.

"I have to try," she said finally, her voice steady despite the tears streaming down her face. "I can't let go of him, Liam. Not yet."

He nodded slowly, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I get it," he said quietly. "I don't like it, but I get it. Just promise me you'll be careful. That you won't lose yourself in this."

"I'll try," she said, though the words felt hollow. She glanced down at LYRA, its soft hum a constant reminder of the connection she couldn't explain. "I should go."

Liam stepped back, his expression a mixture of sadness and acceptance. "Take care of yourself, Celeste," he said, his voice filled with quiet resignation. "And if you ever need someone to lean on… I'm still here."

She nodded, unable to meet his gaze, and turned away. As she walked toward the coordinates that beckoned her, the relic's glow brightened, casting her path in golden light. But the weight of the conversation lingered, a reminder of the life she had left behind and the love she still couldn't fully let go.