Bullet in the Heart

t herself from the tempest roaring inside, Aurora stood close to the enormous glass window. Her mirror gazed back at her, drawn and pallid,

light. The serene mask he wore made her want to scream, and his face was unreadable. As if

ely contained rage. "Zane, how are you able to stan

is glass without looking u

hrough her lower abdomen, causing her to stagger slightly and catch he

t the pain grew worse and spread like waves th

he saw her pale face and the way she fought to

o talk. Her eyesight was swimming as her k

ble, Zane's glass smashed against the ground. His voice had a hint of

ed against his chest. She muttered, "Th

e, and she was met with the sterile smell of the hospital. Exhaustion and somethi

d Zane seated in the room's corner, and her heart sank. His stance was tight as he spoke in low, clipped tones on

and dry when she attemp

s phone in his pocket and g

t... Fear clutching at her

er with a neutral expression on his

earing a white coat walked in with a serious expression. He said

er hand went to her stomach. "No

a placental abruption in you. Regretfully, th

physical blow. Tears were running down her cheeks

this is a lot to take in. We have to concentrate on your recuperation r

eard him. The weight of the loss was like a stone be

he storm, she turned to Zane. With her voice just audible, she ques

readable as he

elling me? To take my han

rora, what would it have accomplished? The mere fact

ion was a new wound. With her face turned away, Au

the door. Her body and spirit were numb as she lay curled on her side, stari

by a familiar voice when the

tall form was silhouetted against the hallway light as he stood in the doorway. His dark b

from sobbing as she

ered. He placed the flowers on the bedside table and whisper

th in his voice. Wincing as her body resisted the action, she slowly

to the bed. "No, Aurora. Not everything is gone from you. You still

ferent. He no longer evenconsiders me to be human. He has forgotten t

ts and his jaw grew taut. "So why

hung in the air. Aurora averted her eyes a

" "Because I believed I could fix him and fix this." However, now... With

fix someone who refuses to be fixed. You shouldn't have to, either.

llowed hard. Bernard, I'm not sure how

ep at a time." "You've already made it thro

s saying. A constant in her life, Bernard served as a reminder of w

f I can pull it

y, you don't have to work alone. Aurora, I'll

rounding her served as a continual reminder of her frailty, and the white walls felt oppressive. Physically,

s sterile air as they sat on the table by the window. Instead of providing her wit

ne

moments, he had always been a man of few outward emotions, so she had expected his absence to sting, but this was worse. Hi

ow approaching, his piercing voice piercing the mists to ground her. But every time, it was a quiet aide check

d by a nice nurse who said, "Would y

turned to face the woman. "Thank you, but no." Her voice so

er eyes lingering with worry. Aurora was unable to

t a physical emptiness, Zane's absence was a proof of the reality she had

nd the candles that had burned to waxy stubs. She had assured herself that he would eventually come back to her and that his abse

this

posed as, the one who made promises that now seemed

piness and hope, her chest constricted. She had tended to that life, dreamed of a future that now l

into quiet sobbing. In an attempt to control the storm insi

again. Another courteous grin or

the words grew clearer, she tilted her head slightly toward the door, although at first

"It's not my place, but I think it would me

eathing bec

doesn't deal with things like this." He's not the kind to hold someone's hand o

t care." Some people find it difficult to express their

possible? Even though Zane couldn't or wouldn't

more. He has given her this, and she has given him everything. His voice c

find it difficult to show up because they are worried a

, "Zane Carrington isn

or as the nurse failed to respond. Tears were streaming s

ence or weakness? The idea went against everything she knew about him his self

hope that there was more to his absence than apathy, th

entered this time, his face softening when he

bedside and murmured, "Hey." "

erheard, so she took a while to respond. At last, she l

scowled.

she pressed. "Do you really be

in my opinion. Even when he has good motives

r," she responded, s

ing through his mind. However, I am aware that you deserve someone to be there for

nto her chest. She noticed the silent power in Bernard's gaze as well as the c

arried may be able to do more, despite her want to rely on

fragility, that