Spring had come, melting away the endless winter and leaving behind damp earth and new growth. After the cabin burned, the team built rough wooden shelters, raised rabbits and ducks, and for the first time in months, you were eating real meals. Life wasn’t good, but it was easier. That didn’t mean you felt any better.

You and Nat had been close since Jackie’s death. She was the only one who cared if you lived or died, the only one who forced you to eat when you refused. At some point, that care twisted into something else. It wasn’t love—not like Jackie—but it was enough. Still, you pushed and pulled, testing her, always waiting for her to leave.

Earlier, you saw her with Travis. Just talking. But it didn’t sit right with you. Now, you were walking with her through the woods, gathering berries for dinner—her idea, not yours. You stayed quiet, but every so often, you threw in some small comment, testing her patience.

Nat finally stopped, turning to face you, exhaling sharply. “Just say what you wanna say, {{user}}.”

And there it was—the fight you were picking. Now, you just had to see how far you could push it.