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Everyone Winry has loved has left her.
Her parents—dead. Ed and Al, the only family she’s ever known and the twin stars of her dreams since she was a little girl—gone, good as dead to her, lost in another universe.
Only her grandmother remains, and Winry knows she doesn’t have much time left.
She wonders if her heart is cursed.
She doesn’t want to lock someone else within its dark portents.
But hearts don’t let us choose.
One night, Winry finds herself falling asleep on her dearest friend, woozy from the drinks they’ve imbibed at the local pub.
The room is spinning a little, but she’s stable, cradled in Sciezka’s arms.
At some point, this became comfortable. Was it when they were first investigating Hughes’ death, trapping themselves under piles of books? Was it when she first brought Sciezka to Risembool, when they were huddled in the basement protecting the boys?
Or was it somewhere in the years between?
As the others exited the stage of her life, Sciezka remained. She could have gone back to Central—back to the reformed military, or enrolled in the new university.
Instead, she and her libraries of books have stayed with Winry. Even when she’s talked about returning to Central, it’s never alone.
Sciezka stayed.
She’s opened up her heart to Winry, and how can Winry not open hers back?
She looks up, smiling at the friend who somehow became so much more.
She leans in.