So. It had all come down to this. She was gone. And he hadn’t even tried to stop her. Hadn’t ‘fessed up. Hadn’t done anything. Not that it would’ve helped any. She’d made up her mind and there was no reasoning with her after she’d done that. Women. Were they all so pig-headed? So tetchy? Stupid. He was such an idiot. Why hadn’t he said something? Anything? It was all his fault. If he hadn’t . . . . . If he had . . . . . Stupid! But she-she hadn’t even batted an eyelash as she turned and walked off Serenity. Out of his life. It’s not like he had anything to offer her, besides his . . . his what? He still didn’t dare even voice that in his own head. Maybe she was better off away from him, away from his business. Yeah, better off. Who was he trying to kid? She belonged here with him, by his side. Not at the sides of men who only saw her as an object, bought and paid for. Couldn’t she see that? Couldn’t she see how much he had . . . well, no point in dwelling on that. No point in dwelling on any of it really. She was gone and wasn’t coming back. But worst of all, he admitted to himself, he was hurt that she hadn’t seemed the least bit troubled that she was leaving him. She had been more moved by the act of packing up all of her things from her shuttle. His shuttle! Serenity was his ship and therefore it was his shuttle. That was fei hua and he knew it. It would always be her shuttle to him and to everyone else on board as well. Sigh. It was over. Done. Nothing left to do but move on.

With that he stands wearily and heads for the door, not sparing the empty shell another glance, and latches the door behind him.