Pyr was sweltering under the merciless sun, and the heat made the air in the working-class district of Route du Sud vibrate.
The shouts of merchants, mingled with the yellow dust kicked up by passers-by, and the smells of spices, tanned leather and sweat filled the atmosphere.
Canillia split the crowd, taut as a rope ready to snap.
Eventually, she spotted it, leaning nonchalantly against a shady wall, a few steps from a small dried-fruit stall.
Lea stood there, arms crossed, an indecipherable expression on her face.
She wore her light Zoraï tunic tied at the waist, leaving her shoulders bare.
His gaze shifted to the Matis without any particular sparkle.
Canillia slowed down, her heart pounding in her chest.
- Hi," she breathed hoarsely.
- Hi," replied Lea, dryly.
A heavy silence settled in. The crowd continued to mill around them, indifferent.
- I've come all the way here to apologize," Canillia tried, feeling insecure.
Léa raised an eyebrow.
- Ah? So you found a niche between two reports?
Canillia felt the blow, but remained calm.
- I screwed up... I know I left you out.
- Put aside?" repeated Léa, inclining her head.
I wasn't "sideways", Canillia, I wasn't even in your field of vision anymore.
She straightened up, leaving the wall to face Canillia, her eyes burning with restrained anger.
- No matter how gifted you are, didn't you see I was burning up?
Didn't you feel that you were losing what we had?
Canillia lowered her eyes, the weight of guilt crushing her.
- I want to fix it," she murmured.
- Repair? Léa laughed bitterly. You fix a broken piece of furniture, not a story that's falling apart.
Canillia felt a wave of despair wash over her.
- Tell me what to do... Please, Lea.
Léa stared at her for a long moment, her expression oscillating between hardness and tenderness.
- What you have to do? Choose.
Between me and your damn secrets.
Because I don't want to be a shadow in your life, an option when you've got nothing else to do.
Canillia felt her legs buckle under the pressure.
- I love you," she breathed, tears welling up in her eyes.
- Then prove it," Lea said softly, but with implacable firmness.
The dam gave way.
Canillia burst into tears, her shoulders shaking with pain too long contained.
Léa looked at her for a moment, then her expression softened.
She took a step towards her, then another, and finally drew her into her arms.
- Come here," she murmured.
Canillia let herself go against Lea, her tears wetting the light tunic.
- You're a real head-turner, you know?" Léa breathed, gently stroking his hair.
Canillia lifted a face still ravaged by emotion, desperately seeking an ounce of forgiveness.
Léa finally smiled at him, that warm smile that had always been her light.
- But you're my head," she added, before kissing him gently.
The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of this suspended moment.
The shouts of merchants, mingled with the yellow dust kicked up by passers-by, and the smells of spices, tanned leather and sweat filled the atmosphere.
Canillia split the crowd, taut as a rope ready to snap.
Eventually, she spotted it, leaning nonchalantly against a shady wall, a few steps from a small dried-fruit stall.
Lea stood there, arms crossed, an indecipherable expression on her face.
She wore her light Zoraï tunic tied at the waist, leaving her shoulders bare.
His gaze shifted to the Matis without any particular sparkle.
Canillia slowed down, her heart pounding in her chest.
- Hi," she breathed hoarsely.
- Hi," replied Lea, dryly.
A heavy silence settled in. The crowd continued to mill around them, indifferent.
- I've come all the way here to apologize," Canillia tried, feeling insecure.
Léa raised an eyebrow.
- Ah? So you found a niche between two reports?
Canillia felt the blow, but remained calm.
- I screwed up... I know I left you out.
- Put aside?" repeated Léa, inclining her head.
Are you serious right now?
I wasn't "sideways", Canillia, I wasn't even in your field of vision anymore.
She straightened up, leaving the wall to face Canillia, her eyes burning with restrained anger.
- No matter how gifted you are, didn't you see I was burning up?
Didn't you feel that you were losing what we had?
Canillia lowered her eyes, the weight of guilt crushing her.
- I want to fix it," she murmured.
- Repair? Léa laughed bitterly. You fix a broken piece of furniture, not a story that's falling apart.
Canillia felt a wave of despair wash over her.
- Tell me what to do... Please, Lea.
Léa stared at her for a long moment, her expression oscillating between hardness and tenderness.
- What you have to do? Choose.
Between me and your damn secrets.
Because I don't want to be a shadow in your life, an option when you've got nothing else to do.
Canillia felt her legs buckle under the pressure.
- I love you," she breathed, tears welling up in her eyes.
- Then prove it," Lea said softly, but with implacable firmness.
The dam gave way.
Canillia burst into tears, her shoulders shaking with pain too long contained.
Léa looked at her for a moment, then her expression softened.
She took a step towards her, then another, and finally drew her into her arms.
- Come here," she murmured.
Canillia let herself go against Lea, her tears wetting the light tunic.
- You're a real head-turner, you know?" Léa breathed, gently stroking his hair.
Canillia lifted a face still ravaged by emotion, desperately seeking an ounce of forgiveness.
Léa finally smiled at him, that warm smile that had always been her light.
- But you're my head," she added, before kissing him gently.
The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of this suspended moment.