You must leave him for good. 

        Leave him. 

        For good. 

        "No no no..." I whispered, the words soft breaths, only audible to my own ears. Eyes bleary with unshed tears, I tore my gaze away from Aunt Morrison's triumphant expression, turning away from her in an abrupt motion. 

        Clutching my sides, I clenched my teeth against the cruelty of the decision I was left to make. Fear climbed higher and higher from the pit of my stomach with each passing second like a strangling vine. Despite the tears pooling in my vision, I stared at the ground, unblinking, the tears burning against my eyes. 

        "Tick tock. The time's running out. Do you want to save Mason, or would you rather let him die?" Aunt Morrison's voice rang out, turning my melancholy into a heated anger. 

        I swiveled around to meet her calculating gaze, shooting daggers with my own eyes as my fists clenched beside me. If I possessed this power, then in this moment, I wouldn't hesitate to use her eyes as dartboards for target practice. A bit too harsh? Well, I've certainly had enough to care. 

        "You are a murderer!" I screamed, my voice powered by the fury shooting through me. "How could you even think about something like this? You would let an innocent die because you don't want me to be with him?! Because your jealousy is too relentless to show mercy?"

        "Don't you raise your voice at me, pest! Also, yes, I would do all this because you need a taste of your family's own medicine!" Aunt Morrison shot back. "Your mother ruined me!"  

        "My mother? Stop dragging her into this! She has nothing to do with all this. It's just your greed for wealth. Nothing else," I snapped.

        "I never told you what your family did to me. You don't even know the truth!" Aunt Morrison said. "Well, it doesn't matter now because you'll soon realize how it feels. You'll feel the pain."

        "Exactly. It doesn't matter because right now, all I care about is Mason. I don't want to be part of your pity party," I snarled, an incredible feeling of freedom coursing through me at my courage to finally stand up against this bossy, so-called aunt of mine. 

        "You're sinful, aren't you? Courtney was probably right. Definitely possessed by demons," Aunt Morrison said, shaking her head disapprovingly. "Now, I'm not going to waste more time. What's your decision? Save Mason and leave him forever or watch him breathe his last breath?" 

        As Aunt Morrison's words registered into my brain, my resolve crumbled, my vulnerability no longer concealed. I groaned, too exhausted to be able to make a life-changing decision. Although, I had automatically picked the best choice when I first heard the deal. 

        If I didn't leave Mason, then he would slip away from me, from this world, altogether. I would never see his emerald eyes again and the way they crinkled at the corners when he smiled. My ears would never be able to recognize that one deep voice which has been the most valuable to me since I first met him. I would never again turn to him saying my name. I would lose the memory of his lips against mine, fading day by day as the person who gave me the wonderful gift of affection, would be lost into the void. 

        I would lose the person I love. 

        I wasn't even able to tell him how much he means to me. I can't lose Mason like this. 

        I inhaled a deep breath, trying to force my heart to calm down, though to no avail. My mind whirred with the possibilities of this "arrangement". 

        One thing was sure: I could not let Mason die. The only other choice I had was to leave him. 

        Leave him forever. 

        How could I see Mason every single day at school, but never talk to him? How would I ignore the yearning in my heart to just hold him? How would I bear the pain when I would see Courtney snatching him away from me?

        I bit the inside of my mouth so hard, that I felt a sharp sting crawl over the inside of my cheek. This must have snapped me out of my sentimental haze, because my brain suddenly seemed to take reign over my heart. 

        I had made my decision. Even though it would kill me with the worth of ten swords slashing into my heart, I would bear the pain. I would do it for Mason. 

        I raised my chin as I inhaled a deep breath, my form similar to a soldier preparing for battle. After a final reassurance to myself, that my decision was the right choice, I swiveled around to meet Aunt Morrison's impatient eyes.  

        I opened my mouth to speak, all the while restraining from breaking down. 

        "I-," I gulped, starting again, stronger this time, "I'll leave Mason."

        Aunt Morrison grinned a devilish smile in return. 

        "Trust me when I say, this is the best decision," Aunt Morrison said before leaving the room with the clip-clop of her heels, Courtney trailing behind her with a cheerful glide. 

        I stood as still as a statue, not being able to believe the choice I had just made.

        Despite the ache it caused me, I didn't regret it. Mason doesn't deserve to lose his life just because of a relentless rivalry between Aunt Morrison and I.

        I sank to the floor, and shut my eyes, too exhausted to reminisce my decision any further. 

        I honestly expected that I would completely break down, although, it was a silent kill. The internal pain had drained me of all energy, so much, that only quiet tears cascaded down my cheeks.   

        I guess that's what continuous agony does to a being. We all give our best efforts to fight for the light, and after the length of an eternity, when it finally comes, it's snatched away too quickly. It's gone too suddenly, as if it were merely a glitch when it was present. 

        My shooting star had burnt too soon, smothering my faith with its ashes. 

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Author's Note:

It feels amazing to be back! Before I say anything else, I want to apologize for the long delay. I am so very sorry for updating so late! 

I know I had said that the update should be up by last Saturday, but I wasn't able to post it because of an event I had to attend. I, myself, am surprised by the delay. This is the longest I have been off of writing on Wattpad, and I sincerely hope, this is the only time. 

Due to school assignments, I barely ever get time to write. So, please bear with the delays. I will try my best to update as much as I can.

Well, here is chapter 25!

Do you agree with April's decision? Let me know in the comments. 

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you so much for reading and have an awesome day! :)

- Anika