RETH
Elia blinked.
He held her hand, kissed her palm, marveled at it. He finally understood. "He wants you to submit to His plan, to see the good in it Elia. Accept that and… and He's giving us time."
Her throat bobbed and she blinked again. "But… accepting that means… means going back."
"You will have to go back anyway, Love. You know that. This isn't… this isn't permanent.
"I know but…" her face crumpled and she began to shake, her weight suddenly less.
"Don't! Elia! Please! Give over to this, to our fate. Whatever it might be!"
"But we can't know!"
"No, we can't! We can only trust that the Creator does, and that this… this time is a gift. Please, love, stay with me. Submit, Elia. Stay with me!"
"I… I…" She stared at him, pleading, and he saw the moment she understood. And then she submitted to it. She gave up control.