breath. His skin screamed, blistering on impact. He couldn't e

rv

from Cale and was now beside him, her eyes wide with a genuine panic h

hovering over his arm, afraid to touch the rapidly

, Arvin felt a flicker of so

ked. "Cale! Oh my

leeting concern for Arvin vanished, repl

cried, rushing ba

expensive suit jacket. A tiny red mark, no bigger

y and cradling his hand as if it were broken. "I'm

in is so sensitive! Look, it's already swelling!

groan, his face a mask of n

in pain, however minor, was unbeara

him toward the exit, then paused, looking back at Arvin over

"Cale's hand... it looks bad. You... you can take a

ping, moaning Cale out of the restaurant w

g into a distant buzz. The pain was a roaring fire in his arm and ch

oned.

ehead. A kind waitress rushed over with a bowl of i

r. This m

rst aid kit, the roaring fire subsided to a manageable burn. The waitress lent him a clean staff

re second-degree, some spots are bordering on third. You're lucky. A few inches

unterpoint to the throb in his soul. As the doctor worked,

riend got a tiny splash of soup on his hand, and s

s had to take a taxi here by himself.

ist or something, right? She must be crazy abo

that sent a fresh wave of pain through h

nd walked out into the night. His phone buzzed. It was

FOUNDATION - OF

e his eyes. It was r

luorescent lights a harsh glare on his pale face. Then he drove his own car, parke

of the mountains, and he painted. The pain in his arm was a dull throb, a physical reminder of the wound in his heart, but as he worked, it began to fade. He painted the sun

ntain to ship the canvas to the gallery Franklin had arranged. As

xplo

calls. A flood

rj

rj

rj

where a

p the

ake me worry? Is th

ALL ME B

t washing over him. For five years, he had craved her

his time, it was Kallie

ea how frantic Jorja has been? You disappear for three days without a word! Are you

before he

pain, was now "frantic" was so absurd it was almost funny. Her concern wasn't for him. It was for the disrupti

confirmed it. For the first time in five