"I had no one," I admitted, my voice cracking slightly. "No one to turn to, no one who would listen. I was alone, cast out by the very people I had devoted my life to serving,"
To my surprise, it was Elias who spoke next. "That's why you kept trying to run," he said softly, his eyes meeting mine for the first time in days. "You weren't fleeing justice. You were just trying to survive." His voice was gentle, almost understanding.
I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. The understanding in his voice, the lack of judgment, was almost more than I could bear. My hands trembled as I reached for my wine glass, taking a large gulp to steady myself.
Goddess, I need something stronger.
As I finished my story, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. For so long, I had carried this
