Breathing heavily, she peered up at him through lowered eyes at his smile. She shuddered at the look. It was not a pleasant expression. He was cold and cruel and she still hurt from where he hit her. She closed here eyes at his words. Had she deserved it? Deserved someone to be so cruel to her, by only wanting to talk to him.

She wanted to tell him something, ask him why, but she couldn't. Her heart felt like it was in her throat, choking her as she watched him walk away. She watched feathers danced in the wind and choked out a laugh. "I forgive you," she whispered to him, knowing he couldn't hear.

It had been her fault. It wasn't his. He had a reason to be cruel. He must have had one, else it would have been useless. So she had to forgive him. She had to.