~Quinn~

"Why are you really leaving?" I ask. "And don't say because of the program. I want the real reason."

Noah goes very still. "Quinn—"

"You promised. Honest answer."

He's quiet for so long I think he's going to refuse. Then: "Because staying hurts too much."

The words hit me like a physical blow. "What?"

"You asked for honesty." His voice is raw, broken. "Staying here, being close to you, it hurts. Every single day. And I thought maybe if I left, if I put an ocean between us, ...