Micah gently stroked Freya''s head, a smile of understanding forming on his lips. "I''m sorry for making you worry."


    "Micah, please, you have to get better. You can''t leave me behind. We... we still have so many things we haven''t done. Everything feels unfinished." Freya hugged him tightly, her voice hoarse and full of emotion. She was truly scared. If Freya had known that Micah was holding onto an idealized memory of someone who had been wless in every way, it might not have hurt as much. But with Arin, things were different.


    Setting aside everything else, it was clear that some choices had been offered to Arin, but she hadn''t taken them.


    Freya didn''t want Micah to spend the rest of his life drowning in guilt.


    Micah continued to gently caress her head. "I understand everything you''re saying. Don''t worry, I''ll do my best to pull myself out of this darkness."


    Freya had always said she didn''t care about these things, and Micah knew where the real issuey. He wouldn''t hold it against her.


    Soon after, Wilfred arrived. While Pharaoh would handle Micah''s physical dependence on the medication, Wilfred''s role was to guide him through the emotional and psychological healing process.


    Micah knew the logic of it all, but no matter how much he understood, he couldn''t move past the emotional barrier inside him. After all, Arin had died because of him. She was right there in his arms, with each breath fading away. Wilfred empathized with his pain. He hypnotized Micah, delving deep into his mind to help soothe his turmoil.


    Micah''s voice was raspy as he finally spoke. "I didn''t kill her, but she died because of me. I never imagined that death could be so overwhelming, so quiet and inevitable..."


    Tears welled up in Micah''s eyes, slowly trickling down.


    Wilfred''s voice was calm.


    "Everything has regrets, Micah. You did your best. It''s not like you abandoned her. Reality is harsh, and sometimes, there''s nothing you can do. For her, death might have been a release from all that pain."


    He paused before continuing, "Think of the countless lives lost in the ve camps When Pharaoh was conducting experiments, Seth was sabotaging things from within. How


    many dives were lost back


    wnov


    Micah, it''s not about being cold-hearted. It''s about


    understanding that the dead are gone, and we, the living, must carry


    on.


    "Micah, you still have your father, your wife, your sister and an entire nation depending on you. If something happens to you, what will be of them?" Wilfred knew that the weight of responsibility was the only thing that could pull Micah out of this dark ce.


    Micah remained silent, his face twisted with pain.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Wilfred pressed on. "Micah, as the leader of the Yaren Tribe, you are ountable to your people and your nation. You''re not just an individual anymore.


    "Arin cared for you deeply, but even if she didn''t, she still wouldn''t have dared to try and harm you, knowing you''re the leader of the tribe."


    Arin''s fate had been tragic, but Micah''s duty couldn''t be ignored.


    After a pause, Wilfred added,


    "Everyone''s life is finite. Her death is heartbreaking, but you''re the leader of your people, and they need you Freya has only just married you. Would you really push yourself to the brink and leave her a widow?"


    When Wilfred mentioned Freya, Micah''s mind shed with images of her face. Gradually, the darkness in his eyes began to lift.


    Micah pressed his lips together and softly said, "I understand now."