❝ Standing on a platform, watching you go. . ❞ Nymph's eyes filled with water as she stared at the ground. She was alone in the forest now. Angelfish Lake. Lu should have been there with her. But he wasn't. ❝ It's like no other pain.. I've ever known.. ❞ Her claws dug into the ground as she watched her memories play out in front of her. Simpler times. He'd carry her back to camp now. Her heart ached. Can't things go back to that time? When he could carry her so easily? Hum her to sleep? But they didn't. ❝ To love someone so much, but have no control.. ❞ The two memory cats walked right through her, as if she were invisible. But when she turned to catch his eye, he was gone. Quail was gone. She covered her mouth with a paw, feeling the cold river that flowed from her eyes on her pawpads. ❝ You said “I wanna see the world,” and I said "Go.” ❞ She stared blankly ahead as her vision blurred, water making everything fuzzy. She felt dizzy and heavy suddenly, crumpling to the floor. Her paws dipped into the lake in front of her, and she squinted her eyes open, sniffling all the while. She saw his face in the reflection. ❝ But I think I'm lost without you. ❞ Quail looked so happy. He didn't deserve to- she stopped herself, her heart already aching too much for her to bear. But it happened anyways, and she was powerless to stop him from falling. ❝ I just feel crushed without you. ❞ A leaf fluttered down from a tree, dropping onto the lake and sending ripples spiraling outwards. His sheepish smile was gone now, and all that remained was Nymph’s horrified face, her olive eyes looked like she hadn't slept in days. How long had she been crying? ❝ Cause I've been strong for so long, I never thought how much I needed you. ❞ She trembled, sitting up slowly and looking to the moon. How could she go on now? Knowing that he was- she turned her head away from the moon, tears dropping to the floor as she lowered her eyelids. She was so tired. ❝ Strangers rushing past, just tryna get home. ❞ Nymph brought her gaze to her paws. They were shaking. She gripped the grass tighter. When did he get so far out of reach? Stumbling backwards, nymph rose to her paws, wandering forwards, almost aimlessly. She didn't bat an eyelid at any of the creatures around her. ❝ You were the only safe haven that I've known. ❞ She stopped suddenly, shaking her head and wiping away her tears only for them to form at an even faster rate. /Oh, Starclan, what did I do wrong?/ He made her feel good about herself. Even when she was horrible. She knew that Lu noticed her failing on purpose. She should have appreciated him more. Stopped him from leaving. Maybe he'd .. still be here. Her breath hitched as she took large, shallow breaths, squeezing her eyes tight and stumbling further backwards. ❝ Hits me at full speed, feel like I can't breathe, and nobody knows. ❞ She gripped her heart with a paw, letting herself sob aloud as her shoulders fell, her head lolling downwards as her jaws hung open. She felt the peony Birdie gave her. Was he crying, too? ❝ This pain inside me, my world is crumbling. ❞ She gasped for air, but could never get enough, sitting down to keep herself from stumbling any longer. ❝ I should never have.. let you go. ❞ It was true. If she'd come up with an excuse or told him where he was going, maybe she could have joined them. She could have fallen off the cliff. Not him. Not ballad. Sure, she would be missed, but what was she to anyone? They'd move on. And she'd much rather alive-Lu mourn her loss than have Nymph mourn d-dead Lu. She wept bitterly, bunching herself up in the grass, her only companion the fireflies and the moon. ❝ Standing on a platform. ❞ Everytime she closed her eyes, he was there. She didn't even talk to him one last time. ❝Watching you go.❞ She just watched him leave camp. Fell asleep in a nap while he fell asleep forever. ❝ You said, “I wanna see the world," and I said.❞ A single tear dropped from her eye. ❝ “Go." ❞
