The King's Spirit and the Knight's Insistence
Could he even muster enough of a fighting spirit? The Queen of Hearts had an impregnable defense—and no amount of sincerity would help him get through it, even now. Alexander watched the woman in front of him sip and eat her tarts, posture straight and her gaze only on her snacks. He should have been more aware of it at the start, but there really were times where things broken couldn't be repaired.
People who were hurt couldn't find it in their hearts to forgive.
And what had happened in the past were meant to stay as they were.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, and fought the urge to sigh and bit back a self-deprecating chuckle. "I really am pathetic…" The world bore down its weight on him and he was buckling too quickly, far too quickly than he would like.