Reflection

ce. The sharp white light above her buzzed faintly, washing the room in a sterile glow. Th

e fog. Then, the shapes became men. Two of them. Standing on eit

her most fragile moments, safe. His face was warm, framed in wor

essing a soft kiss to her knuckle

o smooth. Like a script he'd rehearsed in

complicated it, and unsettled it. But now his eyes held no c

d, her throat dry a

f the head that gave her noth

d, his tone low and eve

nough. Enough to let her feel the space he was ca

elyn's hospital room, the

partially closed door - low, urgent, laced

came first.

d've been g

ne tighter, coiled like

ion should've shut down her kidne

ot with relief, b

sed to happen after that much.

ge wasn't off." A pause. "Maybe her

le

, quieter now, ven

ng... even a fragment...

icked once on th

t. And if

pau

finis

er si

the door closing, l

ere closed, her

slid down her temp

from

dn't

't fl

t even

faded into the hallway, Evelyn opened

ceiling. Blank,

tried to

gined in her fevered haze, but the words

otter than the IV dri

her f

, her

ren't sa

waiting for

t going to gi

t

fragile smile and a bouquet of pale pink rose

rs, Evelyn tho

around her waist as t

f this place," he said. "F

her body stiff

ayb

ented - secluded, serene, everyt

d two nig

e the fatigue. The bruises that darkened too qu

velyn could barely stand

the doctor examined

od cell coun

We'll need to arrange a transfusion immediat

she wh

ow sh

was

he kne

om. Evelyn watched the blood drip through the t

to her chest. The one t

l. Every whisper. Ever

ng to survive.

ed, she would

d her cheek

k tired,

smiled

es a lot o

lows, her hands curled tightly around the thin blanket pooled at her lap. The silence around her was oppre

idn't

ting her final movements like a woma

she thought. In my own spac

ed herself out, declined the wheelchair, and walked out of the hospital wearing her pale-b

m with late afternoon l

s with tired eyes, looked surpr

ked gently, stepping out to

. "Just ta

de was

lur past. Her chest felt tight, not from illness, but from somet

, she paid him in cash, murmured a quie

door came

fr

the doormat, w

familiar

wore when she wanted attention. The same ones Evelyn had once

didn't rac

ly. Her fingers trembled,

thing more pungent, sweat, perfume, hea

. Just walked. Q

the

e bed

r was h

fully - no for

ere th

and

damp sheets. His b

his neck, fingers drag

ther like they didn't ev

e f

harder. Her hospital gown shifted in the breeze from the hall

dn't s

idn't

in from somewhere else. Every word they'd ever said. Every touch. E

t notice h

red and her breath heaving - opened her e

ed. "Eve

k tu

moment, Ev

g smile that mea

of

She didn't give th

alked out. Sl

ilence she left was l

d guilt, her hair tousled, lipstick half-faded. She heard

the corridor. "Wait-Evelyn, please d

voice rising like a

g me back here into

. Her hospital gown clung to her frame, s

t you were doing?" she spat, tears clinging to her lashes b

ard. But this time

apo

gu

ly

o something between

the good stuff,"

job. The spotlight. Him. Even dyin

, disgusted.

her foot already step

rabbed her

pun. "Le

, but rage. "You don't get to walk away like you always

st and open, a slap brew

id-air, her fingers c

econd, everyt

hoving. The hallway tu

back, and Cathy g

the wall, knocking d

ing. Desperate tear

onous hate

th

fall. A sick

the edge of the glass coffe

eneath her like

dn't s

inhale, as blood began

d protruded f

k, breath hitchin

lyn.

ans

lood was soaking through her hospital gown. The w

didn't

crossed

was no g

then dull, then ev

ric, her body failing, her breath growing shallow. The world arou

hed behind

er once

s onc

in the

s in t

, the be

sil

e p

hat wore M

behind Cat

oundless. Her lips parted, barely able to whisper - ye

r Go

rea

didn't love me. I trusted the wrong hearts

y, reaching, though there

time. But time isn't promised. And love..

her throat, blood t

she w

ot with hate in the room. Not with pai

ked, but her s

ng. One more moment to make it right. One more hug for

fell to h

me. Forgive me. Love me

pa

rembled. T

cheek, trailing a final line

room wen

posed to b

still, the pain, th

th

so