From Drowning to Darling: A Second Chance

n the front door opened. Aubrey walked in,

e asked, surprised to see me

nnected my early departure with Kennedy's well-bein

se more trouble? I told y

care that my leg was stiff as a board or that my stomach felt like it was full of shattered

' t asked.

orrow," I said, changing the subject.

the few things he still paid lip service to, a

r my parents' sake, I' ll let the apology slide

knew what

er her while she recovers. Tha

inued. "She'll stay in the master bed

But I was being demoted to a guest in my own home

e word was effortl

ood. You' re finally learning. Remembe

n. "Now go make dinner. Kennedy likes your p

kitchen. It' s just one more meal,

ooking for his lover one last tim

violent tremor ran through my body. The weather wasn' t even cold, but my system was stil

n to get the electric kettle to

ut of the kitchen, leaning aga

hot water?" I asked. My voi

as fussing over Kennedy, his

Eva. Just get the food

ard I tasted bloo

hat I' m a patient to

t that he didn' t think of it. I

omehow managed to prepare a full meal, my b

r, the door was slightly ajar. I saw Aubrey holdi

"Eva... I know you' re mad at me. But you shouldn' t

in his hand. It was a dark, fra

special h

for people with chronic internal coldness, like me. My squad mates had gone to great lengths to get it

t tea?" I asked, my vo

My brothers brought it over when they vi

of fury was

pped. "It was a gift from my squad, for

tty, Eva. It' s just tea. Kennedy is weak

get that small, precious tin flashing in my mind. The thought o

on my face and his

crifice. Put others before yourself." He used th

in with a weak, apologetic voice. "

d with a rage I could no longer contain. "And what about

in shot through my abdomen. I inst

I had thrown myself in front of Aubrey, taking the brunt of the blast. It was the re

ed expression not with s

voice dripping with contempt. "You'

lking. There

venience. My needs were secondary.

Kennedy stumbled out of the bedroom, moaning that she f