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Chapter 3 - Episode 3: You Don’t Get to Come Back

Episode 3: You Don't Get to Come Back

"If you wanted to stay…

you wouldn't have taught me how to live without you."

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Lisica turns.

She should walk away.

That's what she promised herself.

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But her feet don't listen.

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"Why is it always him?"

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Behind her—

Dolkov's voice.

Low.

Careful.

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"You look… different."

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She lets out a quiet breath.

Not turning.

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"That's what happens when people leave."

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Silence.

Heavy.

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He steps closer.

Slow.

Like approaching something fragile.

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"I didn't leave."

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That makes her laugh.

Soft.

Sharp.

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Now she turns.

Finally.

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Her eyes meet his.

No softness.

No warmth.

Just something… distant.

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"Then what do you call it?"

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He doesn't answer.

Because there is no answer.

Not one she'll accept.

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Rain falls harder.

Between them.

Like a line.

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"You disappeared, Dolkov."

"No calls. No explanation."

"Nothing."

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Her voice doesn't rise.

But it hits harder that way.

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"Do you even know what that does to a person?"

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He looks at her.

Really looks.

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"I know what it did to me."

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She shakes her head.

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"No."

"You don't."

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A pause.

Then—

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"You don't get to come back and act like this is fixable."

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That lands.

Hard.

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But Dolkov doesn't step back.

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"I'm not here to fix it."

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Her brows pull slightly.

Confused.

Just for a second.

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"Then why are you here?"

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He looks at her.

No hesitation.

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"You."

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That word—

It used to mean everything.

Now it just… hurts.

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Her chest tightens.

But she hides it.

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"You lost me."

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Quiet.

Final.

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For the first time—

Dolkov's jaw tightens.

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"I don't lose things that are mine."

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That's when something in her shifts.

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Not fear.

Not love.

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Anger.

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She steps closer.

Now they're too close.

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"I was never yours."

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Silence.

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Rain.

Breathing.

Distance that isn't distance anymore.

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But something is wrong.

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Because Dolkov isn't surprised.

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He just watches her.

Like he already knew she'd say that.

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"You can hate me."

He says quietly.

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"Just don't pretend you don't feel anything."

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That hits.

Too close.

Too accurate.

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Her eyes flicker.

Just for a second.

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And he sees it.

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That's all he needs.

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"…You still do."

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Her expression hardens instantly.

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"You don't get to decide that."

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She steps back.

Again.

Creating space.

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But this time—

It feels weaker.

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And that's what scares her.

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"He hasn't changed."

"He still knows exactly where it hurts."

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She turns.

Walks away.

For real this time.

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But her steps aren't steady.

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Behind her—

Dolkov doesn't follow.

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Because he doesn't need to.

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"She didn't move on."

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His eyes stay on her.

Until she disappears.

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"She just learned how to hide it."

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And that—

changes everything.

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End.

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