Sebille's dreams had been restless.

It felt as if something had changed. The feeling had been with her all night, in every obscure dream she'd seen.

There was a noice and Sebille opened her eyes. She was feeling somewhat disoriented but was almost certain that it had been the door. But how could she have heard it all the way to the second floor...?

Strange.

She turned to her left side and spotted something on her night table.

Oh, f---

It was real. It was all real.

Null's phone was on her table along with a letter she was not planning on reading.

Her mind began working fast, shaking off all traces of sleep from her head.

She grabbed whatever was on hand.

She  didn't care what it was, or how it looked.

She didn't even have the time to zip up her boots.

She felt hopeless.

***

The brightness of the snow outside made her half-blind when she rushed out, for she hadn't given her eyes time to adjust.

Her footsteps were fast but wobbly; the ground was slippery and her boots weren't on properly.

"Null!"

He'd just been here, the prints on the snow were fresh.
Perhaps it wasn't hopeless after all.

The ground beneath the snow was icy and it lead to her loss of balance.
"Aa--"

Ouch...

The cold hit her whole lower body, but it felt as if it was everywhere. At first, he didn't even notice how Null had turned back.

But when she did, she couldn't bring herself to look at him. She couldn't even get up in front of his eyes.

All she could do is feebly attempt to shut out the freezing cold.

"Don't go... You can't go."

A hint of desperation visited her voice. She was almost ashamed of it.

"I'll return."

"I don't believe you. Why'd you leave your phone?"
She couldn't even call him now. She didn't know how to contact him any other way.

Null sighed; it was silent but Sebille could see the air from his mouth in the cold.

He lifted his arms, but in her desperation Sebille couldn't figure out why.

...Before he kneeled in the snow in front of her and offered his 'pass' to her.

"I'll come back for it."

Sebille hesitated but took the pendant. The metal felt warm to her fingertips, although everything else around her was freezing.
 

...

Sebille had taken the necklace, but Null's hand was still there.

"Come on up."

If she was to take his hand... it would mean that she believed him.

Trusted him.

Slowly, she reached for the gloved hand and took it.

" ..."

She was defeated. She always was.

"H... how long will you be?"

"A while."

The seriousness of Null's voice almost made Sebille's stomach turn.
 

"I need you back..." Her voice was weak.

This felt like a farewell.

Would she ever see him again if she let go?

Hesitantly, she pulled away, sliding her cold fingers against his gloves for as long as possibly. Everything in her screamed against the movement, but it was something she had to do.

Null would never take her with him. Ever.

Sebille's voice was filled with emotions but concern was above them all; "You'd better come back."

"Go back inside."

Null was calm as ever but Sebille knew he was hiding something in his eyes. Something that worried her more than his leaving.