Skylar stood in the room, chest rising and falling too fast.
"I want to leave," he said again.
Stronger this time.
Like repetition could make it real.
Alexander studied him for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
Just that.
No resistance.
No argument.
Skylar blinked.
"That's it?"
Alexander turned slightly toward the door.
"I said you could leave when you were ready."
A pause.
Then—
"You're not property."
That should have sounded reassuring.
But it didn't erase the tension between them.
It only made it heavier.
Skylar hesitated.
His body wanted to move forward.
But something in his chest didn't follow.
Confusion.
Missing pieces.
Unanswered questions that felt like they were attached to Alexander now.
He walked toward the door anyway.
Slow.
Careful.
Like every step might trigger something he didn't understand.
Alexander opened it.
Letting him pass.
No stopping.
No touch.
No insistence.
Just space.
Skylar paused at the threshold.
He didn't turn around fully.
But his voice came out lower.
Let's pretend this never happened. .
A beat.
Alexander didn't say much but only said
"ok.
Another pause.
Then, quieter:
Feeling a little hurt, Skylar cursed Alexander for being a jerk under his breath..
Skylar's breath caught.
Then he stepped out.
Into the hall.
Into uncertainty.
And Alexander watched him go.
Not stopping him.
Not calling him back.
Just standing there with a calm expression that hid something far more dangerous than emotion.
Because letting Skylar leave…
Was never the same as letting him go.