Chapter 83: Time to Grieve

Those final words lingered in Yuri's memory.

Then, gradually, the rooftop of the police station faded away. The streets of New York disappeared, along with George's silhouette beside her. The memory slowly drifted away, and Yuri found herself back in the Parker living room, ten years later.

She remained silent for a few moments.

Standing before her now was Gwen, who had grown into a young woman far stronger than the child George had once told her about. Peter was there too. So was May. And suddenly, the words spoken all those years ago took on a meaning she had never truly understood until now.

— "Now I understand what you meant, George. This family made Gwen much stronger than I ever could've imagined. She gives off that feeling of warmth and courage… just like you said. You can rest easy… she's in good hands."

That thought slowly awakened something new within Yuri. The weight she had carried inside her since George's death didn't disappear completely, but suddenly seemed lighter.

As though seeing Gwen like this, surrounded by the Parkers and capable of reaching out to her despite her own pain, had finally given Yuri the confirmation she had unconsciously needed all this time.

Yuri gently raised her head.

The exhaustion that had weighed down her expression only a few minutes earlier seemed to have faded. Her eyes were clearer, her face more relaxed, and a newfound determination seemed to replace the silent sadness that had accompanied her since she arrived.

— "You're right, Gwen."

Yuri suddenly rose from her chair, catching everyone off guard. Until now, she had remained relatively still, lost in her thoughts and in everything Gwen's words had stirred within her. So naturally, the sudden movement surprised the other three people sitting around the table.

— "I'm going to leave you guys, but thank you for having me."

She gave May one last gentle look, accompanied by a small, grateful smile, then began making her way toward the exit. Yet she had barely taken a few steps when Gwen almost immediately stood up, slightly worried by her sudden departure.

— "W-Wait, wait! Yuri! Are you okay? Why are you leaving all of a sudden? Did I say something I shouldn't have…?"

Yuri stopped and turned toward her. Her expression was calm, completely different from the one she had worn when she arrived about twenty minutes earlier.

— "Of course not, Gwen. I promise you, everything's fine. You didn't say anything wrong. Quite the opposite."

— "Are you sure…?" Gwen asked worriedly.

— "Trust me, okay?"

Gwen hesitated for another few moments. She knew Yuri well enough to know that she wasn't the type to easily reveal what she was feeling, and part of her still feared that Yuri was simply trying to hide her pain.

Yet, as she carefully studied her gaze, Gwen noticed something different. That inner exhaustion was gone, along with the heavy sadness and the feeling that Yuri was carrying something far too heavy all by herself. In their place was a kind of peaceful certainty, an unusual serenity that Gwen might never have seen in her before.

That simple realization was finally enough to reassure her. A sincere smile gradually appeared on her face.

— "Okay, I believe you!"

Without waiting any longer, Gwen stepped forward and threw herself into Yuri's arms. She hugged her tightly, and after a very brief moment of surprise, Yuri returned the embrace with the same affection. They remained like that for a few seconds before finally pulling apart.

— "Take care of yourselves, you two!" Yuri said, turning her attention toward Peter and May.

— "Like always!" Peter replied.

— "Be careful on your way home!" May added.

Yuri gave them one last smile before stepping through the door and leaving the house. Once outside, she remained motionless on the sidewalk for a few seconds. She slowly raised her eyes toward the night sky and took a deep breath.

The cool evening air filled her lungs before she released it in a surprisingly peaceful exhale. For the first time in a long while, she felt as though part of the weight she had been carrying had finally lifted from her shoulders.

She then walked over to her car, got inside, and started the engine. The vehicle traveled a few meters down the street before Yuri suddenly slowed down. She gently pressed the brakes, remained still for a brief moment, then shifted into reverse.

The car backed up several meters before stopping beside a trash can at the side of the road.

Yuri slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out her pack of cigarettes. She silently stared at it for a few seconds. An almost ordinary object, yet one that had accompanied her for so many years, through difficult days and some of the most painful memories of her life.

Then, without hesitating any longer, she opened the car door and tossed it into the trash without a word or any grand declaration.

She simply closed the door, started driving again, and continued on her way. Her car gradually disappeared into the calm of the evening, carrying with it a Yuri who, for the first time since George's death, had perhaps finally accepted that it was time to look toward the future instead of continuing to live facing the past.

TO BE CONTINUED.