hough the bed felt like a battlefield now, its

sed his eyes

lessly in his mind. Like i

ipped arguments or icy silences in shared spaces. Anger had taken up res

st time they fought, but the one from years ago-smiling under golden afternoon light

s too cold. His hand ran through his hair as he stared into the dark. Regret

sked her if she

n't he

ity. Cars passed like whispers. she was lying in a bed or curled

didn'

anted to

ong time, Richard realized he

-he still cared. And if sh

o fix everything, it wasn

hroughout their journey; the atmosphere was so weird as if two strangers met. This

omeone from the second floor wanted to ent

oo common. Dera stood with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the glowing floor n

a word since le

" the robotic v

nly straightened, his eyes narrowing

nder his breath. "It'

ra turned,

voice and stepped toward

r face in his hands, lowering his voice. "J

imed. The doors

ough to suggest affection. His hand grazed her wa

im to kiss her, but because of how well they cou

smile, taking in the intimate moment wi

k falling. "it was George," he muttered,

ng of what he did was, and he said it was because the person who was about t

ting her coat. "You were a

t straight to the doctor's office. When

husband she had come with, an

nt straight t

talks about her condition in fro

ce low, as if saying it quieter would make it less tr

r mind like a bell tolling somewhere far off. Her chest tightened,

ng in that no-man's-land between resentment and duty. They hadn't really spoken in weeks-small talk, log

moment. He was staring at the floor, jaw clenche

o be held and told it would all be okay. But the man sitting next to her wasn't the one who used to do

e always did: she

er voice steady even as her fingers dug

asked the right questions, kept her posture straight. Every breath f

t could be delayed a little because

outed at her, asking what was more

octor that they would visit h

leave now, said goodbye, and asked Richard if he was not leavin

entually stood up,

o say to Dera but held them i

d she always do what pleased her, and why did she always act like others' opini

n the steering wheel, knuckl

o say, his chest

d that builds when your words bounce off someone

w but steady. She hadn't spoken much all day-just shrugged when he offered her tea

d to be

or a sigh when he reached out. Of the way she turned away-emotionally, sometimes physically-when he needed her to face thin

That being in the same house didn't mean

r, he couldn't bring himself to speak it aloud. Not while she looked so fragile. Not

drove.

peed bumps so she wouldn't jostle. And when they reached home, he ca

A flicker of something behind her ti

tart of a c

id no

what his mouth could not: I'm still here