Summary:

“I couldn’t.” The words are spoken in a whisper so quiet that Ilya nearly misses it. Could convince himself they were never spoken at all. “I couldn’t… go,” Shane says, still so quiet. Ilya is looking at him now. Sees a tear slip free and wants nothing more than to wipe it away. He doesn’t dare touch. Doesn’t know what these rules are now. Nothing is the same, and he can’t undo what was done. He tried. He said it right. Took back the mistake. Hollander, he said. A bandaid over a still bleeding wound. An assurance that nothing had to change when everything already did. Hollander. A second time. A plea. Don’t go. Stay. Stay now. Stay forever. ••• Shane doesn't make it out the door.