od very

e faint hum of the machines, the squeak of a nurse's shoes somewhere do

hat was happening. He kept his hands on his lap, fingers loosely intertwined, like he didn't qui

ked...

the stra

e way you look at a stranger who's cryin

olume was the problem. As if gentleness might slip past wha

linked. On

said. "I don't...

ogetic. Like he was sorry he'

cracked i

she'd fall apart-and she wasn't ready for that yet. Not in front of him. Not in f

stepping closer. "You hated going. You

cked in a brea

fly toward the sound, then ba

ng at the corners of her mouth. "Red champagne. I was furious. You apologi

d slowly. "I don'

led into the fab

at's okay. That's fine. May

breath and

Remember? The entire block lost power. We had candles every

pau

ckly, almost pleading. "You said everythin

thi

ghtly, like he was trying. Li

he said again.

ees fel

that startled even her. "You always say

as if that meant

his head. "I don'

t di

fore the sob could escape. She stared at the wall

Son," he said gruffly. "Do you remember your

at him. Hesitate

flic

quickly. "You remember Ava,

heart slamming painf

between them.

ng?" he

m went v

t her in one lo

ce was barely there now. "You proposed to me by the l

expecting to see a ring appea

se to anyone," h

ision

e your life without me," she whis

ightened.

knives now. Each on

trembling. "Matthew , please. Try

d this time. Her red eyes. The way sh

d quietly. "I'm not trying to be

in Ava fina

ing uncontrollably now. Her entire body felt hollow, li

d, not sure who she was saying

r, summoned by the quiet devastat

thew 's responses with a professional calm

s," he said. "A scan. To asse

eled Matt

or, the distance between them stretching with every second. She foll

od there

rs p

staring at nothing. His parents spoke in hushed tones n

uzzed, but s

sleep. The way he'd murmur her name without waking. The way

lose somethi

returned, Ava was barel

to the head injury," the doctor said. "S

slowly. He might re

rtainty. No time

odded

ortant he's surrounded by care. Familiar voices a

and pa

ow much of thos

s breaking into pieces, she wasn't sur

d Matthew 's room, Av

er chest, feeling the ache

'll stay. I'll remind him. I'll

her shoulders an

e didn't r

emembe