Chapter 12

Atlas took the tablet from his assistant, his fingers tightening around the edges as the screen flickered to life.

Even through the digital display, my presence struck him like a tidal wave.

His pulse pounded as he scrolled through the images I had taken–breathtaking landscapes, golden sunrises, endless oceans stretching far beyond the horizon.

Every shot was a masterpiece. Not just in composition, not just in color, but in something deeper.

Each frame held freedom.

Atlas stared at a particular photo–one of a cliff’s edge, the world vast and infinite beyond it.

For a long moment, he didn’t speak.

He didn’t know if he was remembering the promise he once made–to take me around the world. Or if he was

realizing just how far I had already gone without him.

His throat tightened. “Book me the next flight to A–Country,” he ordered, his voice clipped, urgent. “And keep tracking her location. I want updates every hour.”

Atlas arrived at the hotel where I was. He stood outside the door, his hand raised, fingers curled into a hesitant fist.

He couldn’t knock. His entire body was rigid, every breath he took uneven.

sank onto the floor outside the door, resting his back against the cold wood.

waited through the night, through the long hours of silence, his thoughts

sound of footsteps broke his trance.

member had come to clean the

his head, his muscles stiff from staying in the

housekeeper said casually, unlocking the door. “Left early

felt as though someone had dumped ice

to his feet, swaying slightly, his exhaustion finally catching up to him.

led him

his heart

late–if I disappeared from his sight again–he didn’t

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Love, Seven Minutes

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Chapter 12

see me again.

Then–his footsteps faltered.

with her back to him, sunlight dancing off the lens of my camera as I reached up to

pigeons.

too close,

how to breathe. Happier than he had seen me in

hair catching in the breeze, my smile so bright it was almost painful

the kind of smile I had never worn when I was

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