Searing motes of judgment rained down, each one striking with the weight of truths unspoken, grief unacknowledged. Valeris blocked the first wave with a sweep of her arms, conjuring a radiant shield of petals, but the air rang with the pressure of her past.
"You could've saved her."
"Why didn't you look back?"
"You left us."
Each word from the reflection echoed like thunder. Valeris gritted her teeth. "That's not true. I did what I had to!"
"But did you want to?" the reflection whispered, now behind her. "Or were you afraid that if you reached out, you'd break?"
Valeris turned, fury and pain colliding in her chest. "I survived! I built myself from the ashes!"
"And now it's time," the reflection said, eyes softening, "to stop pretending that surviving was enough."
They clashed—not with weapons, but with will.
