The Decision to Leave

The metallic slide of the elevator doors broke the heavy silence. Gideon stood frozen. His gaze locked onto Gemma. She stood directly across from him. Her face was pale, and her clothes hung loosely on her frail frame. Over the past few days, she had survived in a run-down inn. Her reality had been an endless blur of tears, sleep, and throwing up whatever little food she managed to swallow. During