s'

m, sprawled across the bed, tangled in my sheets like a pretzel,

In my perfect, hazy little bubble of rest, I'm unaware of the world around

A

n, swatting at the air, trying to will it all away, but i

ble, too tired to

this time, almost as if they'r

my sleep-rumpled face scrunching in ir

ng there is none other than Father Thaddeus-looking all pristine

y heart rate spikes, mostly from shock, but partly because

s, still half in a daze. "What the fuck ar

ing in my messy-ass room. It's a mess, by the way-clothes strewn everywhere, empty coffee cups lit

on you," he says in his usual calm, measured tone, like he's some saint on a mission to s

t bored? You want to spend your precious holy time w

composed. "I just wanted to make sure you were

llow. "Alone? Yeah, no shit. Because who else would want to be stuck in a room with me? What are you

t to cuddle with me? I can give that to you,

k he's going to walk out. But then, he steps into

eyes at him. "What now? You gonna try to get me on

, actually. Like he's trying to read my soul or something. But I'm used

like an overbearing cloud. "Eris, I know you're

And you don't get to judge me. Not when you've got your

es me more. Every single time I make him crack, it feels like I'm w

n come in here and 'save' me or whatever, you're wasting your time. I d

Then, he does something unexpected-he takes a s

htly. What the hel

"I came here because I don't want you to destroy

. "And what makes you think I need saving? You think you can jus

s eyes unwavering. "

anything except following your little rules. Your idea of 'saving' me is just draggin

t but firm. "I know what it's like to be lost, Eris. And I don't want you to g

. Save it for someone who

faint knock on the do

se walks in. Her eyes land on me, and she gives me a polit

"I just wanted to check on Eris. We're still waiting for Katrina's tes

of concern in his eyes. He looks at me one last time, then nod

and I'm left alo

eavier. "You really need a hobby, Father. Go bother so

oom. His expression is unreadable, but I see the flicker of something-maybe

etween us fee

g on my lips, "you're not gonna get me

but the storm in his

ng happened between us." I provoked him further, making