I Enrolled as the Villain

"Lucia, I..."

My voice barely came out. There were a thousand things I wanted to say, but none of them felt enough.

She turned her head slightly, still bandaged, eyes hidden beneath the gauze.

"Kael, I... I’m sorry. I said too much, I shouldn’t have—"

"No. Please don’t."

I stepped closer, voice firmer than before — not to silence her, but to stop her from blaming herself.

"You didn’t say too much."

I sat down beside her again. The chair was cold. The silence louder than anything.

"You said what I needed to hear. What I should’ve heard years ago."

Lucia didn’t reply, but her hand twitched just slightly like she wanted to reach out, but wasn’t sure if she was allowed.

I looked down at her, then whispered:

"You waited by a locked door... and I never turned the key."