The airport terminal was bustling with activity, the sounds of hurried footsteps and the distant murmur of travelers blending into a constant hum. It was the kind of pce where people were always going somewhere, leaving something behind. For Marinette, this was no different. She was leaving behind Paris—the city that had once been the backdrop of her dreams, but now felt like a distant memory. She had dreamt of this moment for years, but never under these circumstances.

  Marinette sat on one of the cold, hard benches, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her cup of water. Her eyes were fixed on the glowing flight information board above her, her mind lost in a swirl of emotions. The sounds of her heartbeat seemed to echo louder than the terminal's noise, the weight of her decision pressing heavily on her chest.

  Was this the right choice?

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft, familiar voice from her purse.

  "Marinette," Tikki said, her tiny form fluttering out of the bag, hovering in front of her face. "I know this is hard, but you made the right decision. You've done what you needed to do for yourself. Don't doubt it."

  Marinette wiped the tear that had slipped down her cheek, forcing a smile. She could feel the weight of Tikki's words, but it didn't make this any easier. She had spent so many nights imagining what life would be like if she left, if she could finally start fresh somewhere else, far away from everything and everyone that reminded her of the pain she felt. But now, as the time to board her flight drew near, she wasn't sure if she could leave all of it behind.

  "I know, Tikki," Marinette whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But it still feels like I'm running away... from Adrien, from Ladybug, from everything I've known."

  Tikki's eyes softened, her small wings fluttering gently. "You're not running away, Marinette. You're choosing to move forward. Sometimes the hardest part isn't leaving, it's letting go. And you need to let go of the past, of the things that hold you back, in order to move forward and create a future that's all yours."

  Marinette sniffed, wiping her eyes again. "I... I never told him. I never told him that it was always me. That Ladybug was always me." Her voice cracked as she said the words, her heart aching with the weight of all the unsaid confessions, all the love she had buried inside for so long.

  Tikki floated closer, her tiny wings almost brushing Marinette's cheek. "You don't need to tell him now. Maybe one day, you'll be able to, but for now... this is your time. You deserve to live your life, free from the pain, free from the shadows of the past."

  Marinette closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, the weight of the decision finally settling in her heart. She was going to be okay. She had to be.

  The loudspeaker crackled to life, announcing the final boarding call for her flight to New York. Marinette stood up slowly, her fingers instinctively resting over the small bump that was barely noticeable beneath her loose jacket. The life she had created—their life—was growing inside her, a bittersweet reminder of everything she had lost and everything she was now carrying with her.

  She looked around at the terminal once more. The people around her were in a rush, none of them noticing the silent pain she was carrying. No one knew the truth—about her pregnancy, about Adrien, about Ladybug. It felt strange, like she was hiding behind a mask once more, only this time it wasn't just to protect Paris. It was to protect herself.

  As she made her way toward the gate, her heart heavy with emotion, she paused at the window to look out at the pne waiting for her. The wind outside was gentle, the sun setting in the distance, casting a warm glow over the city she was about to leave behind.

  She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the soft breeze wash over her, and her mind wandered back to Adrien. His words repyed in her head—"You're the best friend I could ever ask for."

  The truth was, she didn't want to be his best friend. She never had. But it wasn't something she could change now. Not now, not after everything that had happened.

  Her eyes wandered to the departure sign overhead, the final call for her flight fshing in bright letters. She felt a lump in her throat, but she didn't let herself cry anymore. Not here. Not in front of these strangers, not in front of the world.

  She turned away from the window, walking toward the gate with slow, deliberate steps. Every step felt heavier than the st, but she kept moving forward, driven by something inside her—something stronger than the pain. She had to do this. She had to leave.

  As she reached the gate, she stopped for one final moment, gncing back at the terminal. Her eyes swept across the crowds, the noise, the life that continued on without her. And for one brief, fleeting moment, she wished she could stay. She wished she could stay and face the truth, face Adrien, face her past.

  But she knew she couldn't.

  With a deep breath, she pced her hand gently on her stomach, feeling the tiny life inside her shift ever so slightly. It was a reminder that this was more than just a goodbye. It was the beginning of something new, something she had to do for herself and for her child.

  She looked ahead and took one more step forward, as the final boarding call echoed through the terminal. The soft sound of her footsteps mixed with the distant announcements, growing quieter and quieter as she moved toward her future.

  Goodbye, Paris.

  Her eyes filled with tears one st time, but they didn't fall. This time, they stayed inside, locked deep within her, as she walked into the unknown, leaving behind the memories of love, loss, and everything she had ever known. The future awaited her. A brand new life. And she was ready to begin.