"I love you too," I whispered. "But that's exactly why I have to go alone. So you can live. So you can have the future we should have had together. So you can love someone else someday and be happy."

"I don't want someone else. I want you."

"I know." Tears streamed down my face. "But this is bigger than us. This is about saving everyone. All eleven realities. Billions of people who want love just like we do. Don't you see? That's why I have to go. So others can have what we can't."

Lyric sobbed. "That's not fair."

"No. It's not. But it's necessary."

She pulled me into...