The hand that wasn't tangled in her hair lifted to cover her mouth, as if to stifle a gasp that never came. Tracey felt like crying, though she knew it wouldn't happen. No tears were bound to come. They rarely did, after all. But this realization, this situation, was so...terrifying. It had the potential to undo her. Shatter her. Because even if she wasn't normal enough to feel jealousy, or extreme possessiveness that other women knew in romantic situations, she still had some feelings. Strong enough ones.
When had Zach become the most important person in her life?
She knew the answer to that, but the last person she wanted to think about was her brother. Zach had been through all of that with her. He'd been one of the few to care, and to stay by her even though she had withdrawn from the rest of the world.
Her eyes met his, fleetingly, with all of the childlike wonder and fear and confusion that was welling up inside of her. The tips of her fingers slid past her lips, which were still flushed from so much attention, and Tracey finally moved to speak.
"I have to leave." Soft, resolute, but sure. Because now that she did know the truth, for sure, she knew that she could never reveal them. Not if she wanted to keep herself intact. Because once something like this got started, it always ended messily. Tracey couldn't afford to fall to pieces again.
Pressing her lips together, Tracey nodded once as if to reassure herself, and turned to leave.