You sat on the bed you shared with Paul, the soft scent of spice and the echo of his footsteps resonating in the hallway as he headed to training. You knew it was vital, that every second on the field better prepared him for the dangerous future you both shared, but the weight of his absence at that moment was almost unbearable.

You looked toward the door, your heart beating between doubt and longing. You could obey his wishes to stay in the room, wait until he was done, and trust that he would return to find you, just as he had promised.

Or, you could slip into the hallway silently, defy the rules, and risk getting close to him.