The visions wouldn’t stop. They poured into Luke endlessly— Future after future— Loss after loss— Lily dying in worlds made of ash. Lily disappeared timelines, collapsing inward. Lily reached for him while reality split them apart. Every possible ending. Every imaginable grief. And the worst part— Some of them looked real. Not twisted. Not manipulated. Possible. Luke’s breathing became uneven. His hands shook against the frozen ground. The figure stood over him calmly. “This,” it said softly, “is what attachment becomes.” Another vision hit. Luke screamed her name into an empty world. Another. Holding her while the stars went dark. Another. Walking alone through stabilized realities that no longer remembered, she existed. His chest felt like it was tearing open. “Stop…” he whispered again. The figure crouched slightly in front of him. “No,” it said. “You need to understand.” Far away— The presence strained against the stillness desperately. “…interfere
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