Dr. Elias Duncan had just been appointed the new head of the Southside branch.

I was traveling with him.

Only Desmond showed up to see me off.

"My parents were afraid to come," he said, his voice low. "They’re scared of the tears, and they were worried you wouldn’t want to see them anyway."

I tried to force a smile, but even feigning indifference felt like a heavy lift.

Elias reached over, taking my carry-on with a practiced ease, and offered a curt, professional nod toward Desmond.

"We should get going."

Desmond leaned in, his fingers lingering as he carefully tightened my scarf to ward off the chill.

He reached out as if he wanted to pull me into a final embrace, but his hand faltered in the air. Instead, he simply tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering for a heartbeat too long.

"Text me when you land," he said, his voice thick. "Let me know you’re safe."

I gave him a stiff nod. "Don't worry, Desmond."

I saw the way his eyes grew rimmed with red, a flicker of something raw beneath that cold, calculated exterior.

As we headed toward the terminal gate, Elias turned to me, his brow furrowed. "Are you really not planning on letting him know?"

"Know what?" I asked, keeping my gaze fixed ahead.

"That you remember everything," he said, his tone sharp with suspicion. "You do, don't you?"

I stopped in my tracks, the hum of the airport terminal fading into the background. I turned to face him, my expression unreadable.

"Dr. Duncan," I said firmly, "that’s a secret between us. Let’s keep it that way, shall we?"