Did she tell you this?

As the door closed behind her, Rafael’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

“Because of me, you both suffered. I should not have done it.”

Doris shook her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

“Don’t say that, Rafael,” she replied gently.

“It wasn’t your fault. They did this to us because of who we are, not because of anything you did. They made you suffer too, and none of this is on you.”

She reached out, lightly tracing the wounds on his face, the fresh bruises from the abuse he had endured. Rafael winced but didn’t pull away.

“But, auntie,” Rafael’s voice cracked.

“I couldn’t save her.”

And then, all at once, he broke down. Tears spilled down his face as he hugged Doris tightly, his body trembling.

“She told me to forget her,” he sobbed on her shoulder.

“She doesn’t want me. She told me to let her go.”

Doris's eyes widened in shock as she gripped Rafael’s shoulders tightly, forcing him to look at her.

“Did she tell you this?” she asked, her voi