The Day He Chose Her, I Chose Myself

rture, exactly as

anket, while I was relegated to fetching

oblivious to the dynamics, or perha

ingers brushing hers as he took it. A sm

de, making sure her

andwich with her, something I'

were the small, everyday intimacies that re

d always treated me – with distanc

strange numbness

previous day had dulle

peak unless spoken to. I k

feast, an unwilling obs

hield. If I didn't feel, they c

ing that shattered eve

d brought. "Lily, smile," he sa

d, posing

rned to me

e camera. "Tak

He wanted me to document their

ing. Was this another punishmen

ng slightly. I focused on them, Lily

Click

ike a hammer blow to my

his eyes as I handed the camera back w

nfused by my la

utburst. My calm seemed to unsettle

ost imperceptible s

s, my pursuit, my frustration. This new

n the atmosphere, decide

n't it be lovely if Elara could find someone too? Maybe one of t

too good for them, or perhaps,

his expression unr

"Elara isn't looking for anyone here, L

ne directly, "I've made my feelings clear.

ingering hope I might have harbore

were almost a relief. Th

d. I smiled. A small, g

he hope, the pain. It was

ted. He would nev

it so baldly, so publicly, s

t now. It was the ache of a wound that was fi

clung to for so long, they

't looking for anyon

ed. A wind whipped up, s

Ethan said, jumping to his

picnic things as the first

ket, I saw Lily near the edge

mething in

liberate movement, she

ke. A small, venomous-looking

cious, there was no mistaking he

as an

, its fangs sink

pain shot

d, stumbl

llapsed was Lily's face, a mask of feigned shock, an

blac

and out of

Urgent.

... looks like

.. we only have one dos

l physician, was there

m were bitte

ust Elara!"

or! It bit me too! On the ha

to speak, to

e," Dr. Ma

pa

enough antivenom for one. The next supply chopper won't b

h choice. Limi

eavy, suffoc

prayed, with what little strength I had,

th. You're the foreman. Who gets it? We need to decide n

was it. His choice wo

agonizin

voice, cold

it to