Leaning into Bryan, Kira took slow, uneven breaths, trying to calm herself. She knew it wasn't their fault for making such a decision, but it didn't help with how she felt inside. She was sad, exhausted and emotionally drained.

She knew they would do anything for her, yet those words, "We can't ask you to wait for us," lingered, and it pained her so much.

It pained her that there was nothing much she could do but leave. Staying might destroy them even more than leaving. And Kira knew that.

She ...