Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 33: The Weight of Silence

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The Weight of Silence

The days following Kane’s passing blended into one another, each one a ghost that haunted Lily with its quiet. Her existence now had a peculiar stillness, a spooky silence that seemed to encroach on her from all sides. She felt more lost than ever even though she had triumphed and exacted revenge on herself. She didn’t feel as relieved as she had hoped when the man who had once been her worst enemy was gone. Lily didn’t know how to fill the void it left in her life.

Although they didn’t talk much about the fallout, Ethan had been there all the time. There were no congratulations or festivities. The planet seemed to have held its breath and was now cautiously and gently releasing it. Even if he didn’t express it out loud, she understood what Ethan was thinking since he had witnessed the toll that retaliation had taken on her. He didn’t have to. When he had stared at her after Kane had fallen, his eyes had told her everything. He was aware that Lily had changed since entering this mission some months prior.

Lily’s gaze traced the brightness of the city lights as she gazed out her window at the cityscape. She had previously cherished New York’s energy, its never-ending bustle that offered something fresh at every turn. The metropolis was now only a background to her own inner turmoil, and it felt like a faraway memory. What did she actually stand to gain from defeating Kane? What had she actually given up? Her tranquility was not the only thing that had been disturbed. There were other expenses that were hidden, unsaid, and persistent.

She turned when she heard footsteps behind her. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on softened Ethan’s normally austere demeanor as he stood at the doorway. He hadn’t really changed. His dark hair was still combed nicely, his eyes still had that enigmatic intensity, and his suit still fit him wonderfully. However, he suddenly carried a tension, an unseen burden from which neither of them could break free.

Ethan whispered softly, "I’ve been thinking," breaking the stifling hush that had taken over the room.

Lily chose to observe him, her eyes narrowing slightly, rather than reacting right away. She was aware that he had been considering their next course of action and what would happen next. Now, though, what was there to plan? Kane had passed away. The danger had been eliminated. They had prevailed. Nevertheless, there was nothing to rejoice over. Even after the game was done, Lily still felt like she had lost.

At last, her voice was hardly audible above a whisper, "What is it?"

After hesitating, Ethan entered the room and shut the door. "Lily," he murmured quietly, his words piercing the silence like a sword, "I don’t think we can keep running from this." "The lady you were before has changed. Nor am I.

The reality of what he said resonated deep within Lily, causing her chest to constrict. Since the beginning, she had changed, and now that Kane was gone, she felt as if she were living in a different world. She wasn’t sure who she had become, but Ethan was correct that she had changed.

She said, her voice breaking beneath the weight of the admission, "I don’t know who I am anymore." Everything she had been holding inside spilled out as if the floodgates had opened. In that one instant, the guilt, the grief, the rage—all of it came to the surface. "I believed that after this was ended, I would experience a certain emotion. Closure and relief. However, I feel as though I’ve been emptied out.

Ethan took a step forward and put a hand on her shoulder, his face softening. Although it was a modest gesture, it brought about a great deal of consolation. He touched without expectation or judgment. Just being understanding.

He murmured softly, "You don’t have to know all the answers just yet." "Most people could never imagine the amount of things you’ve been through. It is more than sufficient that you are still alive.

Lily cocked her head slightly to look into his eyes, looking for traces of the guy she had known in his face. Ethan had always been in charge, a man who flourished on accuracy and well-thought-out moves. But now there was a rawness beneath the surface, something unusual about him. The experiences they had experienced left a lasting impact on both of them.

With hesitation in her voice, Lily muttered, "I don’t know if I can go back to the life I had before." "I’m not sure if I want to."

Ethan touched her arm lightly as he watched her for a long time. "Lily, you don’t have to return. You’ve already evolved. However, you have a choice in what that change entails.

Lily felt the weight of his words descend upon her as she closed her eyes. Now, what did she want? What was it she actually needed? She was unable to change the past or reverse the choices she had made. From here, however, she could decide where to go. She experienced a glimmer of hope for the first time since Kane’s passing—the notion that there may be a path forward, even if it was uncertain.

After inhaling deeply, she opened her eyes and met Ethan’s gaze. She added, her voice more steady now, "I don’t want to run anymore." "Even though I have no idea what lies ahead, I want to face whatever it is."

Ethan’s mouth formed a little, contented smile. "That’s all anyone could possibly want."

The moment lingered between them, laden with mutual understanding and unsaid words. Although they had both lost a great deal, they had also gained something from their shared experience. Neither of them knew what that something was. But for the moment, it was sufficient that it was real.

Lily understood that the road ahead would not be simple as they stood there in the silence of the room. She would still have to face some aspects of her history, and she would face more difficulties in the future. But she wasn’t scared for the first time in a long time. Because Ethan was at her side, she didn’t fear the dark or the unknown. And that was something she could cling to in itself.

Although the burden of everything they had experienced was still bearing down on them both, Lily was confident that they could bear it together. Although it wasn’t the life she had always dreamed of, she could begin to create a new one. And it was sufficient.