Sydney whipped out a box of cigarettes from the glove compartment. "You mind if I smoke?"

"I don't like the smell," I said.

It was too cold to open the windows to let the nasty smell escape. Heat blasted through the car's vents, warming up my naked hands. I knew I should've worn gloves.

Sydney drove while keeping the destination a secret. I asked roughly three or four times about our final destination, but my question seemed to disappear into space.

She took and placed the box on the side of her lap and continued to drive away from the city. Out of thin air, she dropped a hard-hitting statement.

"I know about you and Ruben."

"You know about me and Ruben? Meaning…?" I tried to speak smoothly, but my horrific stuttering didn't do me any favors.

Her eyes were locked on the road. "You can drop the act. I spoke with him. He will not see you unless you are with me, no matter the circumstance."

I waved my hands in front of my chest. "It's not what you think. I—"

"We'll be where we need to be soon. Meanwhile, you can start by telling me your side of the story."

I sighed and did what she asked. I told her everything. The pitiful reason I went to Ruben was to meet Fernando and Alice. They taught me about new Ionian gadgets, the mission, the SCAR agent, and how to fight that strange man. I spilled everything to her. She didn't interrupt once.

"All of this because of an uncertain future?" She asked with concern.

"It's not even about my future. I want to live with the boys. We've been together for so long, and they are the only family I have. I don't want to split up in fear of them losing them."

Sydney didn't say anything for the rest of the ride, which wasn't too long.

We arrived at a small park. It was quiet and blanketed in a thin layer of snow. The trees stood tall, their branches coated with frost that glittered in the pale light. The pond at the center froze over, and a wooden bench looked towards the other side of the pond.

"This place is different in the spring. Vibrant with kids running and musicians playing for a small tip. The pond is clear with small fish, and the bushes are thick with life. You wouldn't even recognize it."

My hands were stuffed in my jacket's pocket, wondering one thing. "Why are you showing me this?"

Sydney exhaled, her breath visible in the frosty air before shoving a cigarette in her mouth. She walked closer to the frozen pond, staring at her reflection. "Because sometimes," she said slowly, "we forget that life isn't only about fighting, or running, or surviving the day." She turned her head toward me. "You say you don't want to lose the boys. I believe you. I really do. But if you spend your life clinging so tightly to what you already have, you'll never see what else is out there. You'll never see what could grow… like this place in spring." Her words lingered in the frozen silence.

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I hesitated before I said, "People left me in the past. I've said goodbye too many times, though I'm not used to it. I never will be, which is why I want to stay close to them as long as possible. I want to be there to protect them, unlike the others in the past. I need to remain strong so history doesn't repeat itself."

"I get that," she said quietly. "It's admirable how much you care for them. But protecting them doesn't always mean staying right beside them. Sometimes it means letting them grow on their own, even if it scares you."

I frowned with uncertainty slapping at me. "Let them grow? How can I let them face danger if I'm not there? If I step back, won't that just—"

"—won't that just let history repeat itself?" Sydney finished for me with a faint smile and removed the cigarette from her mouth. "Maybe. Or maybe it means you finally trust that what you've built together is stronger than the fear that's haunted you. You can't guard every moment, every choice. You can only be there for the ones that truly matter, the moments that really count."

"And what if I fail? What if I step back, and it all falls apart?"

"Then you help them stand up again. That's what makes you strong. Not holding on so tight that nothing else can exist, but knowing when to hold on and when to let go. That's real strength."

"Real strength…" I repeated.

"You know," she said before taking another puff, "I was part of the Branded 7. I like to think that I wasn't born to fight. Just a kid trying to protect my brothers. My mom died when Kaze and Nathan were little, and my dad, well, he did what he could, but we struggled. I wanted to help, so I found someone who promised a way to make things easier. That's how I met Ruben. He didn't just help my family. He made me something else. Something deadly. I learned to fight and soon after, to kill. I was respected among his inner circle and deployed on countless missions. I was attached to those missions, addicted to fighting and bloodshed. Then one day, I messed up. A child got caught in the crossfire. I thought I could live with it, but I couldn't. The guilt nearly broke me. Drove me insane. I shortly begged Ruben to leave. He allowed it on one condition: psychological torture. I still remember the kid's name. Temos. Shot in the chest. Dead on the scene. Regardless, he allowed me to leave, and from there, I became a full–time older sister. So when I talk about letting go, giving space to grow, it's not just advice. I've learned the hard way that holding on too tight can destroy everything you care about. Some things, some people, or even yourself become stronger only if you step back, even when it scares you."

This was the first time Sydney went into detail about her past with Ruben. I didn't have a response, so I stayed quiet. Sydney noticed and filled the crisp air with more words.

"I'm not mad that you went to Ruben. Yes, I want you to stay away from him, but, at the end of the day, you didn't know better. And it's my fault. I should've given an explicit reason why not to go to Ruben. As soon as you owe him anything, he leverages that and ruins your life for his personal gain. Then, when you try to leave, he permanently scars you for life. Killing a loved one, a loving pet, chopping a hand, or even psychological torture. He'll make you regret leaving. Which is why I don't want you to fall into his debt."

"I… wasn't aware." A casual lie. The man I fought during the nightclub raid worked for Ruben. He left Ruben's group, and his partner had to pay the price. Fernando told me at the casino that Ruben would threaten me if I refused a task, but wouldn't actually commit to the threat. I wondered whose story was accurate.

Sydney continued. "And I don't think the boys will ever leave your side. They followed you all the way to the City of Ionia, a place that outsiders can dream of. If they follow you here, I can guarantee they will never leave your side, even if they aren't physically with you." She smiled genuinely.

"I mean, I guess you're right. I'm just afraid of being alone again. But… yeah… you are right. I need to let them live their lives. I can't hinder their future for my own selfish gain. They need to grow wings and fly."

There was no point in being afraid anymore. I couldn't sit here forever dwelling on the fact that the boys have lives of their own. Their lives were out of my control, and I had to accept that.

And so, I swallowed my fear.

"I won't be lonely. Because in the end, they will always be there when I need them."

"I will be, too. I'll help you start a future here. One where you'll look at the sunset and be proud of where you're standing."

"Ya, that sounds nice," I said while looking across the frozen pond.

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