Love in the Storm

e cracks of the hospital window, carrying the scent of damp asphalt and distant car exhaust. She closed her e

a routine of medications, forced smiles, and her mo

eing that boy, Rita.

stra

fully laid-out path of treatments and expectations. But to Rita, he was

ed her from her thoughts. She

e murmured, a

er, more careful. His hands were shoved into his jacket pockets, his d

he said, closing t

laugh. "That's kin

a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "I, uh...

stuttered.

More like... a mess o

flicker of excitement breaking through

onto the edge of the bed. He cleared his throat

sent a shiver d

spoke of fighting for something even when the world tells you to let go, of holding on even when i

d the last chord, tea

d them awa

ic no

" he murmured, setti

ed, her voice bare

feeling something wh

argue, but the weight

be..." she trailed

ble?" he

ed shakil

resting on his knees. "You don't ha

rmed in h

ound so simp

ed that she was sick, to be treated like she was breakable, to ha

d

time, she noticed the faint shadows under his eyes, the

are so much?"

right away. Instead, he looked down at h

it's like to be left

breath

quieter now, a

she was never the same after that. And my little si

ached. "I d

t smile. "I don't

hem, heavy with things neit

ic reached

f playing guitar, and when they wrapped a

a long time, she wasn'

eezed h

ile pr

d things got, they wou