The Phoenix Before Doomsday
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I go back to the door.
I press my hand against the metal, I close my eyes.
"I know you can hear me," I whisper. "I know you can feel me."
I pause, I can feel the tears coming, I don't stop them.
"Julian says you need a trigger, something emotional, something powerful, so I'm going to give you one."
I take a deep breath.
"I love you, Elara. I've loved you since the moment I saw you, not because you were powerful, not because you were special, because you were you, because you were broken and beautiful and fierce and everything I never knew I needed."