Irene felt his grip tighten just sharply enough to pull her from the depths but the ringing was still present. A respite. Was that what she wanted? Some room to breathe, to remember what it felt like carefree and looking forward to what tomorrow held. It had been so long since she’d felt that; she’d been carrying around a weight in her chest for so long that she couldn’t remember what it felt like to live without one.

Words from a long time ago came back to her, unimpeded by the context in which they were said, echoing throughout her mind: I must choose myself before I have nothing else left. I must put myself first because no one else will.

“I don’t want to forget,” she couldn’t hear her own voice over the blood pounding in her ears. Even her vision went blurry, and she felt something wet on her cheeks. “But I don’t want the pain. I’m tired of the pain. I want to chose me before anyone else has the chance to turn away.” She blinked rapidly to clear her vision. “Do what you need to...or tell me what to do.”

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