Keith: But you still haven’t told me why you left.
Laura: …Honestly, there is n-no good reason why. There’s nothing that I could say to excuse what I did, but I can try to explain.
Laura: Though my p-parents approved of our union, when you weren’t around they expressed to me their apprehension. They were… a bit frightened of you.
Laura: The whole village was. None had ever seen a basitin before, but there were so many terrible rumors about your race going around.
Laura: Especially once you proposed. So many people told me what a mistake I was making.
Laura: I didn’t believe them, I-I knew it wasn’t true what they were saying. B-but I became overwhelmed, I wasn’t sure what to think.
Laura: Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore. I p-panicked and ran.
Laura: I n-never intended to stay away. I just wanted time to think. But once I ran, I didn’t know what to do.
Laura: I was ashamed. I didn’t know how to face you again. So I stayed hidden, even when I heard you calling for me.
Laura: I t-thought I had time to pull myself together. I didn’t know you’d leave and never come back.
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