** Paige’s POV **

The sentence lands heavily, but I can’t say I’m totally shocked.

“What?” I ask softly.

She finally looks at me then, eyes bright and too guarded all at once. “I’m not staying, Paige. Not here. Not now.”

My chest tightens, but I don’t interrupt.

“I need space,” she continues, her voice shaking just slightly. “To figure things out. To understand what’s happening to me without everyone watching. Without… expectations.”

...