"I don't know what happened," Naomi said for the third time that afternoon. "But whatever it is, you can't just keep it all to yourself. Lunara—"
"I'm not asking you to fix it," Lunara cut in gently. Her voice didn't rise. If anything, it had grown smaller. "I just… needed to say it out loud. Just once."
Naomi sighed, folding her arms. "You think I'm not dying to grab Eryx by the collar and yell at him? Because I am."
Lunara gave a sad laugh, shaking her head. "Please don't."
"You can't be serious."
"I am." Her gaze dropped to her lap. "I don't want him to come to me because you pushed him, or because someone guilted him into checking on me. I want him to come because he wants to. Even if it's just to say it's over."
Naomi's eyes softened. "But that would hurt more."
Lunara nodded. "Yes. But at least it would be real."
