Chapter 13: Goodbyes and New Purposes..

The air was heavy with an unseen weight, a cold, silent fog clinging to the school grounds like a damp shroud. Every footstep echoed through the misty air, and every breath seemed to hang temporarily, a whisper of smoke that refused to go away. Millie stood outside the administrative block, a resignation letter clutched tightly in her hand. The paper trembled slightly, not from the chill, but from the turmoil that gathered inside her chest.

Her heart beat loud and fast, her mind echoing with doubt and uncertainty. She hadn't slept much the night before, her thoughts consumed by the revelation that had shaken her world. Liam, the boy she had grown to care for, might be Ethan's brother. The same Ethan she had grown up calling her half-brother, the boy her father had taken in ten years ago after his mother passed away. The same boy who had disappeared without a word, leaving behind nothing but memories and a few scattered letters.

The revelation had left her reeling, her mind struggling to make sense of the complex web of relationships that had been hidden from her for so long. She felt like she was living in a dream, a dream that was rapidly turning into a nightmare. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she couldn't continue as before. She needed to take a step back, to reevaluate her life and her priorities.

With a sense of resignation, Millie stepped into the office. The secretary looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in Millie's pale face. "Miss Millie? You okay? You look pale," she said, her voice tinged with concern.

Millie mustered a soft smile, trying to reassure her. "Just a little tired," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Could you pass this on to the principal, please?" She handed the secretary the envelope, her hand trembling slightly as she did so.

The secretary took the envelope, glancing briefly at the printed heading. Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, Millie thought she saw a flicker of understanding in her eyes. But the secretary didn't speak, merely nodded and took the envelope.

Millie turned and walked out without waiting for a response. She didn't have the strength to explain, to justify her decision to leave her job. As she walked away from the administrative block, Millie felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that she had made the right decision, even if it felt daunting and uncertain.

The fog seemed to swirl around her like she's some kind of river goddess, hiding the faces of her pupils and teachers. Millie felt a sense of anonymity in the crowd, a sense of freedom that she hadn't felt in a long time. She knew that she would have to face the future alone, without the comfort of familiar routines and expectations.

As she walked, the silence of the morning seemed to envelop her, a reminder that sometimes, the only way to move forward was to let go of some things. Millie's thoughts turned to Liam, and the revelation—the fact that they felt the same way about each other and that he might be the biological brother to her half brother—that had changed everything. She wondered what the future held, and whether she would ever be able to reconcile her feelings for him with the complicated history that bound them together.

The uncertainty was daunting and overwhelming, but Millie knew that she had to take the first step. She had to be brave enough to face the unknown, to see where life would take her. And with that thought, she disappeared into the first light, leaving behind the life she loved. The silence of the morning swallowed her whole, and for a moment, she was free.

---

Back in the classroom, Liam was finishing up the morning assembly session when one of his late pupils—a small, overly enthusiastic boy named Jide—burst into the room, panting heavily and clutching the doorframe for support.

"Uncle Liam! Uncle Liam!" he gasped, his eyes wide. "Miss Millie's leaving! She gave the front office a letter and said she's not coming back!"

Liam froze.

The book he held slipped from his fingers and thudded softly onto the floor.

"What?" he said, barely above a whisper.

"She's resigning! I heard the secretary say it. I was just walking past!" Jide repeated, almost as if he couldn't believe it himself because really, he couldn't.

Liam didn't respond. Without a word, he stood abruptly and strode out of the classroom, leaving a roomful of confused children behind. Some watched him go with wide eyes; others murmured among themselves. But he didn't hear a thing. His pulse was pounding in his ears.

He moved quickly down the hallway, past the front office, and caught sight of her just as she was reaching the school gate—her usual calm stride a little quicker than usual, her bag slung over one shoulder.

"Millie!" he called out, his voice sharper than he intended.

She paused.

Slowly, she turned around. Her eyes widened in surprise for a brief second before she masked it with her usual composed, neutral expression.

Liam reached her, nearly breathless. "What's going on?" he demanded. "You're quitting? Just like that? Without even telling me?"

Millie's lips parted as if to speak, but she hesitated. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, though her voice remained steady. "Liam... I have my reasons. Besides, you wouldn't let me leave." She tried to joke of it but Liam was obviously not in the mood.

"That's not good enough," he said, shaking his head. His voice cracked. "We've been close. You know we have. Don't I deserve to know why?"

She looked away, avoiding his gaze. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. "Some things are bigger than feelings. Bigger than what you and I might have."

"So that's it?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "After everything? You didn't even think I deserved to know. That meant nothing to you?"

Her lips trembled. Her composure wavered.

"It meant everything," she said softly. "Everything, Liam. But I have to go. I don't expect you to understand."

"Then help me understand," he pleaded. "Please. I deserve that much."

She finally looked at him, really looked. Her eyes—deep, tired, vulnerable—searched his. "Even if I turn out to be a different person from the person you you think I am… even if one day you find out that I'm someone else entirely… just remember this: what you saw in my eyes… it was real. It was all real."

His breath caught in his throat. There was so much he wanted to say, so many questions he wanted to ask. But the words refused to come.

Millie stepped forward, leaned in, and gently pressed her lips to his cheek. It was the softest kiss—tender, full of things unsaid.

She lingered for a second. Then she pulled back and whispered, "Goodbye, Liam."

And with that, she turned and walked away.

Liam stood there, frozen, the sound of her footsteps growing fainter. He didn't try to stop her this time.

He simply watched her go, the weight of her words sinking into the silence she left behind.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Liam moved like a shadow through the school halls, barely registering anything around him. His students noticed, but none dared ask. The staff offered sympathetic glances, but no one had the courage to bring it up.

By the time he returned home, the sky was dimming into an orange-purple dusk. The silence in his apartment was suffocating. He slumped onto the couch and stared at the card still sitting on his coffee table.

"Peanut."

He ran a hand through his hair and muttered, "Why now, Ethan? Why now, when everything's falling apart?"

He'd tried calling Millie several times during the day, but her number didn't connect. Voicemail, every time.

Was she even still in town?

His thoughts were spiraling again. His mind kept dancing between the truth of her departure and the suspicion that somehow, all of this was connected. He was once a soldier and had a great instinct. This moment was one of those moments when his instinct is at it's peak.

Ethan. Millie. Vex's murder, "The mysterious shooter". It all gnawed at him like rust beneath the surface.

He stood suddenly, walking to the window. The street outside was quiet. A cat darted across the road, vanishing into an alley.

He couldn't just sit and wait.

He grabbed his phone and paced.

Then he stopped. Hovered his finger over a contact for several seconds.

And then he tapped it.

The line rang once. Twice. Three times.

A voice answered. He didn't speak right away.

Then finally, he said, "I need help."

The voice responded.