me. My bed. Upstairs. I do

ave clock saying 5:47 and his boots by the door leaking me

And my dead old phone and the burner phone were both on the charger on the d

still warm. S

coming a habit. A bad habit maybe. But it's sof

itchen. Back to

h

the bottom

many scars. Long white lines crossing his shoulders, down his spine. Like claw mark

sink. She saw me and her ey

t off the counter and pulled it o

othing happened. But his f

My face was hot too. I stared

Food in the fridge, honey. Kael,

What

ng us in the kitchen w

w the way he moved stiff on his left

I said before

Too fast. Like I'm fi

the big one. On your si

e forgot it was there. Then he sig

guys had a knife. Got lucky," he sa

. Because of me. Because

My voice went loud. "You got - Kael, yo

ut stopped halfway. Hand in air. "It's not

hat thing looked d

ing, but angry shaking. At Jonah, at

me," I

nked.

o see. If it's not

little, surprised laugh. "Y

ser

That heavy look. Then he lifted his

oked. Like he did it himself in a hurry. Blood seeping thr

ered. "That's s

he said aga

ke that off. The t

f himself, wincing just a tiny bit but t

inches long. Not super deep but deep

x I saw on top of the fridge - Mara must have left

. My knees on the cold kitchen ti

ll sting

id. Looking dow

ay blood smells up close, metallic and warm, I hate it but I kept going.

s stomach muscles tightened when I touche

red, focused on the gauze. Putting new g

for this," he sai

bed because of some girl you found in the

he said, soft, "You

shed his skin. Warm. So warm. Sca

Sat back on my

he bandage. St

you," h

d again," I said,

not almost smile. Teeth showing

t to," he sa

d for you like

es cracked. Loud i

ing his shirt up a little and I was right there i

nd. Just a second. Then back up. Heavy.

should have moved. Ste

" he sa

ea

s you right now,

nt. Not literary. Not smoo

ally thought. Jonah ne

ing so loud I was s

oice barely there.

n. He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear that had fallen o

aned down.

the mouth. Warm and careful, lik

ster kissing. It was like...

n't h

y hands found his shoulders, carefu

a little fast, he rested his foreh

," he whispered. Like he w

pered back. "Eve

inst my forehe

ough the kitchen window, falling on the frozen mud p

nd his hands were still wa

rew away, I thought. But Jonah felt

itchen with the fridge humming an

at me like I was the only thing keeping him breath