Other than the overwhelming feeling of dread, I was in a state that could only be described as peaceful.
Cecilia and I stood atop The Tower, wrapped in each other’s arms. The warm sunlight shone down upon both of us, and the breeze that wafted through our bodies was only gentle.
It had been a rather long school day, and I had a meeting with General Woodward in about an hour, but that didn’t seem to matter at that moment.
The scent of Cecilia’s hair sailed into my nose, sending waves of happiness through my body. I was so incredibly happy.
Of course, part of me was worried about the attack on Paris – that is what was causing my feeling of dread – but that was the only negative thing about the moment.
‘I could stay here forever, you know?’ Cecilia whispered.
I squeezed her gently.
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‘You and me both.’
‘Of course you’re up here,’ Ethan’s cocky voice rang from my left.
Opening my eyes just enough to see, I found his head poking out of the hatch on the floor – roof? – and it was decorated with a grin.
‘What do you want?’ I grumbled, slowly, and regretfully, easing out of Cecilia’s grasp.
‘Just came to find you to check on you,’ he shrugged as he climbed onto the roof. ‘Hi, Cecilia.’
‘Hello…?’
He grinned. ‘Gods, you two must have been enjoying that hug, huh? You both look like you’ve just been to a funeral now that it’s over.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘You don’t have to check on me, Ethan.’
‘Evidently not if you’re with Cecilia,’ he joked. ‘Should I leave you guys to it?’
Nobody said a word.
‘That’s a yes, then,’ Ethan said, beginning to stride back over to the hatch. ‘Oh, and, by the way, I’m really warming up to this attack on Paris. We’re gonna burn that whole place to the ground.’
Before I could respond, he disappeared back down the hatch.
‘Uh…where were we?’ I said sarcastically.
Wordlessly, Cecilia wrapped her arms around me.
‘Right here.’
And there was no other place that I would have rather been. I almost didn’t want to let go.
But I had to eventually. As much as I loved her, I had to let go. I couldn’t hold onto her while committing arson in a foreign country.
I smiled. My trip to Paris was going to be more fun than it was for most people.