He took a shaky breath, blinking back tears in the moonlight.
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“Please,” I whispered, voice cracking. “Please don’t make this harder.”
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But she wouldn’t move. She stood there, hair tangled from the wind, eyes wet.
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“Why can’t you just run away with me?” she pleaded. “Why can’t we leave them behind?”
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My throat tightened. I could hear distant drums from my tribe’s camp. They’d know I was gone. They’d send trackers.
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“Because they’ll never stop hunting us,” I said. “My father...he’ll kill you. And then he’ll kill me. And the war will only get worse.”
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She grabbed my wrist. “I don’t care.”
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I pulled away like it burned me.
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“I care!” My voice cracked. “I care too much. That’s why you have to go. If you stay...if they see you with me, they’ll call you a spy. They’ll make me watch while they torture you. I’m trying to save you.”
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She shook her head. “No. No, don’t say that.”
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I stepped back. My whole body trembled.
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“I love you. That’s why I’m begging you: please. Leave tonight. Never look for me again. If you ever cared about me...run.”
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She fell to her knees, sobbing.
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I turned and ran into the trees, heart shattering with every step, praying she would do as I asked and live.
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