The weight of Jamie’s impending departure settled upon Claire like a leaden cloak, casting a shadow of melancholy over the final moments they shared. She couldn’t help but reflect on the depth of their connection, the way their lives had become intertwined in a way that left her yearning for his presence. Every stolen glance exchanged across the hall, every intimate moment shared in their bed, seemed to flood her mind, highlighting the profound impact he had on her life. The prospect of Jamie’s absence created a void, an achingly vast emptiness that she wasn’t quite prepared to confront.