t rising and falling too fast, as if her body hadn

n through the open window-students laughing, footsteps echoing down the hallway

s of

you

had already li

ng to her. Smooth skin. No scars. No IV marks. No trembling weaknes

ed-sharp

she whisper

ounded youn

he thin pillow as tears soaked through the fabric. They came in waves-grief, relief, rage, a

mbered e

wedd

cold

cr

en outside her

one, everyth

at up, clutching her chest as if try

ered, the name tast

n instincts? Over the quiet warnings in her h

ignored the one person who

ni

rfaced with

the way he always stood a little to the side, never pushing, never demanding. The warmt

e to be strong

eath h

he murmured, voice shaking. "If

ous life, she hadn't realized the cost o

, she wou

ded suddenly

d upright, h

wake?" a familiar

room

ng her. She wiped her face quickly, took

Come

Yue, peeked inside. "You scared me," she sa

d at the cloc

7 a

art sk

s d

aught as mem

Andrew would com

would ask

ning of e

managing a small smile. "

u should hurry. You'l

Sophia rep

e didn

mmedi

t time in her life,

as th

ink in. The tall trees lining the paths. The bulletin boards plastered with club poste

Andrew fro

ng, phone in hand. He looked exactly as he had back then-young, c

rushed toward him, heart

ophia

hed him

impatience in his posture. The faint crease be

t waitin

for what she

expression brightened instantly. He straightened, slipped his ph

id with a grin. "I've

is face, her hea

ou need?"

rly not expecting th

peated evenly, "

"You're funny today.

hed for

stepp

was small, bu

d. "What's wr

linching. "Nothing. I just

a second before he recover

o

s bein

o talk," Sophia contin

hen lowered his voi

cou

ly-not in amusement,

ch?" sh

again, then n

didn'

ach for h

n't

ly looke

d quickly. "Sophia, I reall

to you,"

aid, frowning. "I

ious life,

shook her hea

he had spoken a foreign lang

iving you money,"

sion darke

ll kill me f

ou never

died belie

ords and offered him

I don't

ffed. "You

m n

ing his voice. "Sophia,

ze, unshaken. "

time, Andrew l

et this," he

soft, controll

replied. "

eaving him standing th

h fear, but with somethin

nt

on, Sophia s

a tree, notebook open on her lap,

making

te

ou

she had

ns she ha

had ever handed And

w tigh

e had given until th

he would tak

ow

efu

ntle

otebook, a shadow f

phi

eath c

look

pack slung over one shoulder, e

n class," he said. "I

n blurred

thought. He w

ckly, her emotions s

said, her vo

lightly. "Ar

he had lost once already, and f

rcing them back. "I just

faintly.

ty of it nea

by side, Sophia felt the future

t was sti

t

s res