with more than just gauze and antiseptic. It

ven a friend home and noticed the dilapidated brick structure. It was even worse up clos

over and peeling. Taking a deep breath that did nothing to calm the frantic

ans

tling inside, the sound of

?" she called, her voice trembling slightly. "It's

came through the wood

ectly to her. The words were a slap, cold an

eaking to the closed door. "That cut is bad.

wed was absolute. She

d it. A distin

ic

dead

He had locked away her

ng the sting of his rejection. But underneath the hurt was a stubborn, aching tenderness. His coldness wasn't

break it do

bag on the worn, grimy welc

e soft but clear. "There's antiseptic, bandages, an

turned and walked away, her foo

. All day, Genesis was tormented by images of him in that dark

a numb buzz of worry. She spun the combination, the familiar cli

fr

history textbook was a

d it out. It was lighter than s

d, and a few were missing. The bottle of antis

made her knees weak

nts for everything he had used. A new box of bandages. A new bottle of antiseptic. He'd

x of bandages was a small, f

it with fum

rawled in a messy

ks.

that was half sob. Tears pricked h

He would accept her help when he desperately needed it, bu

mate than any conversation. It was a glimp

ocket, a precious secret. She held the bag close to he

charity case. He

despite everythi

armed her from the inside out, that s

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