t sleep

en for

r, beside the photo that made my skin crawl. I didn't

might swing open at any moment. My ears strained for footsteps, the clink of

e neve

t even by the time I was suppose

ared to care. But another part of me-maybe the stronger part, or maybe just the part that still kne

everyt

hastily wrapped around my palm throbbed beneath the fabric of my glove. The cold bite of th

another world-a place where I didn't have to be a

d avoiding mirrors. Every time I sat, I tried not to flinch. Every time I stood, I t

as doing a goo

l I w

St

bastian's voice, slicing throu

s standing in his office doorway

..so

ng briefly to the hand I instinctively hid behind my skirt. The

tiff

side. Now

fine,"

nd your hand.." he

ding through

oked

mn

ed through. I moved to pull my sweater sle

linc

lly. Not notic

eno

"I'm not goin

't say y

idn't h

idn't want him seeing too much. Knowing too much. Be

im into his office.

nd me with a soft cli

to the chair across

m ok

Si

in his tone this time

s

ge attached to his office and returne

ary," I tried again, but m

ling in front of me before I co

Gently. Carefully. Like he thought I

aybe I

yself," I said,

alread

ze away. His brows furrow

rom an accident

id no

warm. I didn't realize I was watching him so cl

. Just fo

ated that it made m

ying to ask a question without words.

ftly, voice barely above a whisper. "

red, finally looking away

Wh

ause it makes thin

e wound and taped it in place with

afraid o

ll,

my lips. Because it made me sound weak.

he nodded...like he un

e sat back on his he

l man

not what

ed. "Just a fall." I lied. I can't tell

And cut your hand. And you

m fi

in, heavy and full of things I cou

aid, walking to the door and o

tell him there's a probability I might

t have turned a

et again. J

t en

in the air between us. Somet

n't na

her d