fall, the fainting-it had landed me in

agnosis. The scans from my fall showed the glioblastoma

my emergency contact for years, a relic from a time when hi

his arrogant mask slipped. I saw a flicker of something else i

s voice barely a whisp

d at me, really looked at me, in years. A sliver of a foolish, long-buri

is phon

the screen.

e flicker of concern vanished, repla

his," he said, al

is voice, low and soothing. "I'm here, Chlo

oom, grabbing his jacke

attack about the benefit

ready at

lled out, my

ut didn't t

," I said. "It

Her family's reputation is on the line after her

reputation over my

e. The last embers of my love for h

ere, listening to his footsteps fade d