a's

he warmth of his touch lingered on my skin, a

o

rned to recognize the signs in other people. But I had never

as a m

into his body. But I hadn't understood what I was feeling until now. The re

backward, a

ame out wrong, thin and shak

k and intense, his hand still reaching t

I said again, louder th

the way that mattered. Tristan was my husband, yes. He w

had always known that, somewhere deep

nt of me, and my body was reacting to him

, backing away further. "

said, his e

N

ned a

-

ed the hospital wing. My legs were

wall outside my room,

ddle of the night, in the middle of the woods,

surd and

door and found me the

have you been? You shouldn't be out of bed. Your body

, but nothing came out. What

the woods and pulled poison from hi

aid finally. "I jus

twenty-four hours ago, Sera. You should not be wandering around the grounds in the middle of the night. Yo

"I'm sorry. I just

already steering me back into the room, her hand firm on my elbow. "You need to

pulling the blanket over my legs. My body

ngel said, her voice softer now. "And then I'm going

said. "It w

she didn't argue. She just sh

y mind racing. The warmth in my chest was still there

uldn't be happening. Not now

-

in the doorway a

s hand. It looked cheap, like the kind

aid. "I'm so

ked at him like he was a s

"She was scared, she though

she now?

ra. She'

you too,

something soften behind his eyes, watched the flowers lower

didn't

said. "That's almost worse. Now

at me and then tried again a few minutes la

aid quietly. "I want to understand

me," I said. "You weren't here for

er

leave,

ant

leave, T

e convinced him there was no arguing. He finally stood, set the flow

nd him, staring at the ceiling, and

d up my

hing I ever made for Tristan. Every shirt, every jacket, everything I sewed w

are you

said. "Bring

-

er. A pile of folded clothing sat at my feet, and fire w

at are yo

ne I had made for him during our second year of marriag

ew just so he would have something

put it on. I remembered him telling me

now, standing th

d again. "Stop

't ans

em all int