s returned i

nted. Pain no longer screamed-it pressed, constant and suffocating, like the w

n't open

dn't

e coul

distant at first, then gradual

lling hasn'

ormal aft

ill not r

o tell them she could hear every word. But her

ps appr

ized them

dr

then surged painful

ought weakly. Maybe.

gile-lifted its h

closer to her bed. She felt movement near he

ew s

in r

in f

rrit

his going to t

s breat

re monitoring her condition hour b

" Andrew i

d neurologically..." The doctor hesitated. "Even if sh

ce fo

eart hamme

herself. Please. J

ain, his voice

doesn't wake

hardened. "Sir,

owly. "I know. I

ar

d painfully in

ontinued, "there won't be compli

se

sharply she thought h

e, you are the primary beneficiary, yes.

eded," Andrew sa

steps re

hing inside her c

rand holding her he

ght. I'm not a person

ll the times she

isn't l

t need

me in his

tasted bi

with silent sobs sh

passed.

idn't

omething essential i

er-she felt an

e was d

ie

re

bed. The sound was soft, hesitant, as

voice spo

phi

acted before

ni

nswer," he said qui

unding. His fingers didn't grip hers tightly. T

tinued, his voice thick with emotion. "I shou

ped

rners of Sophia's eyes, u

l not

eath c

whispered. "You can

er, his voice

efully. "But please-please don't give up.

wanted to sa

htened around her

be strong," he murm

n bloomed i

you, she thought. If only

spilled out u

back of the classroom,

her home when

t the hospital when

ad se

imply cho

her, heavy an

iel said. "As lo

eadily, indifferent to

onsciousne

pressed

me, it wasn

drea

ps she r

rossroads-two paths stretching

always did in public. Behind him, shadows twi

er path st

dn't

mply

step towa

eneath her f

fe

iolently thro

nd her erupted in

drop

losin

und her. Voices overlapp

lt hersel

attered like le

he thought faintly. I lov

ssure envelo

ni

ed softly, his voice

ed to an

s sorry, that she saw him now, that if she c

tayed locked in

rtbeat

ain d

ettled over her,

ought wasn'

standing at the beginning of everything

thought, fading, I wou

ld went

l

a

h

gh

le tore thro

ped, eyes

ite of the hos

-faint cracks near the corner, a glow-in-

dorm

ersity d

est, her heart pounding

s brea

iv

un

arr

her face as realizat

had

some

n given ano