"If there's anything I'll fight for," he says, and though he's doing a magnificent job of staying strong and keeping his composure, you know he feels as broken as you do, that the words you're saying are barely even registering for him right now. "It's our love. You know that. You know I'm not going to let you walk out this door without an in depth explanation of whatever the hell is going on right now and whatever the hell has been going on for the past few weeks."  

It's not an explanation you can give, not this time.  Not without risking his life. 

"It's simple," you manage, though the words feel as far away and exhausted as you currently feel. Just do as they said,  you repeat to yourself, knowing it's a case of life and death here, you just never wanted to contemplate how hard it would be to have to do that... to break his heart and make him hate you, so he's too hurt to follow you and march headfirst into his own demise.

"I'm leaving. I-I don't love you anymore and I'm leaving." 

You pray with everything in you that it will be enough, that he won't let himself read between the lines, that he won't make his way out of the door after you, calling you out on your obvious lie, that he'll never have to see what's really going on here and what has been for the past few weeks...

You always promised yourself that if it ever came to it, you'd be the one to walk into the fire if meant saving those you love. And truly, you love Taemin like no other. 

You know you always will.