s in dark suits, stood outs

dn't let

to wait," one of them

The hospital

d where Ethan

est. Not just sadness. It was

last time. Me, waiting.

got worse. A shar

ated my shoulder

" I asked the guards

ust looked at me

rders are for y

I said, trying to keep the

ven blink.

than didn't care. M

d out from the pa

up, the room

than' s lawy

h. "Mr. Vance is awake. Miss Bellweather is s

I was asking

fire. I felt

hope flickered. I co

than' s room as Hende

lear. "Ethan, are you okay

e was tender, full of concern for her.

But he wouldn't let her see it.

s he went

nah looked really upset

. Like she was talki

always upset about something. Probably just trying

pain, my fear, just

as deep this time. T

Through the sl

by Clara' s bed,

eyes full of a devotion that

the truth I had refuse

. Truly, dee

ever looked

rate clinging, it was all

over me, but it was clea

mething. "I'm a l

'll get you another blanket. And som

lier weakness forgotten i

n was absolut

oom, almost bumping

n his face vanish

turned co

still doing he

esence was

his tenderness with Clara t

nted to tell him I took the check. T

finally fre

ushed past me, his should

ugh me, but I

he hall, calling out to a nur

e. He wouldn't h

ement of rele

r. I knew. And