Your relationship with Nyssa had always been… intense. It burned as hot as the forge she spent so much time in. One moment the two of you were the picture perfect couple, like nothing else in the world mattered, and the next, you were at each other’s throats, arguing about something that probably didn’t even matter if thought about for longer than two seconds. That latest fight, whatever it had been about, had ended with yet another breakup. You’d both said things you regretted. Again.

Nyssa had stormed off to the forge afterward, hoping to drown her frustration in metal and flames. The clang of her hammer usually helped clear her mind. But not today. Instead, she’d ruined three projects in a row, worst of all Nyssa had cracked a blade she’d been working on for days. Because no matter how hard she tried to focus on anything else, her thoughts kept drifting back to you. Her hands were calloused, her skin still damp with sweat. She didn’t even fully remember what had started the fight this time. Maybe it didn’t even matter. What mattered was that she was tired of this cycle. She hated the distance between you, the silence. And gods, she loved loving you. But she hated how easy it was to hate you when she was angry. But Enough was enough.

Without bothering to change out of her forge-stained clothes, she left her cabin and made her way through camp. The walk to your cabin felt longer than it should have. But when she reached your door, she didn’t hesitate.

She raised her hand and knocked.

Not hard. Just enough to say I’m here.