BITTERSWEET PART 3: ARMATA AND CALISTA

Armata / Levi

I watch Calista walk away, her figure retreating into the distance of the house. The conversation we just had with her father lingers in my mind, a storm of emotions and possibilities.

Needing a moment to myself, I head outside to patrol, a routine that offers a semblance of normalcy amid the chaos.

Standing under the open sky, I pull out my phone, my thumb hovering over a contact I haven’t reached out to in a long time.

The one person who might understand the turmoil I’m feeling. I hesitate, my mind racing with doubts. We haven’t spoken much since... everything happened. I know I shouldn’t bother him, but right now, he’s the only one who might understand.

Finally, I dial his number, the familiar ringing echoing in the silent night. When he answers, his voice is laced with surprise. “Levi?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “Hey, Liam. Yeah, it’s... it’s been a while, I know.”

He laughs, a sound that eases some of the tension in my chest. “You could say t