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.

the end, he didn’t knock. He sank onto the floor outside the door,

the night, through the long hours of silence, his thoughts a chaotic

of footsteps

staff member had come to

head, his muscles stiff from staying

the door. “Left early this morning.

dumped ice water

slightly, his exhaustion finally catching up to him.

led

his heart hammering, his

too late–if I

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Years of Love, Seven Minutes

72.9%

Chapter 12

see me again.

Then–his footsteps faltered.

I stood with her back to him, sunlight dancing off the lens

pigeons.

a bird flapped too close, my face tilting

a moment, Atlas forgot how to breathe. Happier than he had seen me in years.

my hair catching in the breeze, my smile so

the kind of smile I had never worn when I was with

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