"Uma?" her voice broke. Because that more than anything told her that he was telling the truth. That somehow he knew some weird future that she'd never lived. Because she ha never mentioned Uma to Ben. Never said that name in Auradon. If anything... she called her Shrimpy. But even then....

Her knees gave out, and she berated herself for being weak, but it was hard. Because this was Ben. This was someone who was as close to being safe as anyone. Ben and Evie. She... she had ben hiding her weakness more and more from them, but at the same time...

They were the ones she had most wanted to talk to.

How many times had she tried? Started to say something to Evie only to pull up short thinking about her Best friend's reactions to going back to the Isle, to the talismans. To how eager Evie had been to be rid of all of that once and for all. How much thoughts of home disturbed her.

How many times had she started to say something to Ben... just for him to have to rush off before she could get a word out? Or before Jane pulled her away for one of a million questions about cotillion.

How many times had she just... given up and had the chance but just... didn't try.

How could she go back to that? To being pulled in so many directions, to having to hide who and what she is because the people need a princess for their future Queen. Evie needs someone who grew with her away from the Isle to look to the future. And Ben...

Once again she felt like her heart was breaking.

Ben.... needed someone he could count on. Someone he could trust. Someone who wasn't going to break the no magic laws. Someone who could help him with all the new duties he was drowning under. Someone who didn't forget the day of the weak or break her promises.

Or run away.

She wanted to run away now. So badly. But she couldn't move, huddled there on the ground.