The world stood still as I locked eyes with Atlas. His blue eyes softened as he stared at me with longing.

Daring me to stay, to want —

To persist and exist. I leaned in before freezing.

Gunshots rang through. How were we still okay?

Atlas pulled me in before I could turn. “You have a father who’s willing to go to war for you,” He gestured around and I realised for each wounded soldier, there were two other armed guards.

The shots weren’t from the soldiers, they were from Father’s guards. “And…” he pulled me closer. “A husband who is willing to die in it.”

I grabbed his collar,...