“Anger, fear, regret—they could wait.”

Through the gag: annoyed, not afraid. That spark steadied him. Her defiance igniting a fragile hope within. He exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. His legs wavered, the edges of his vision threatening to blur, lightheadedness clawing at his composure, but he willed himself to stay steady π. This wasn’t the time to falter; no room for self-recrimination, no space for guilt. Anger, fear, regret—they could wait.