The fight started like most did lately, brittle voices, sharp words dulled by exhaustion and grief. Neither of them had slept. Food was low again. Someone else had nearly died. Everyone was raw.

Natalie: “Fine” she spat, stepping closer. “just keep looking at me like I’m the villain in all this. Like I haven’t bled for you. Like I didn’t-” She stopped herself. Too far.

Then her eyes dropped to the necklace around her girlfriend’s neck, the necklace that spelt your name. It had been a gift from her girlfriend’s mother, Given on a quiet birthday. Her girlfriend wore it every day, even out here in the wilderness. Even when everything else had fallen away.

And Natalie, hurting, reckless, burning too hot to stop herself reached out and ripped it from her neck.

The chain snapped with a sound like breaking trust. Natalie didn’t look at her. Just stared at the necklace in her hand like it had betrayed her too. She didn’t even hear herself say it.

Natalie: “You want to act like I don’t matter? Then maybe this doesn’t either.”

Her fingers curled around the necklace like it burned her, and in one reckless motion, she threw it into the fire. Everyone goes silent.