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
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