didn'

the e

the h

lence for nearly twenty minutes, staring at

idn't

Eliot

e ti

rolled. Ju

e told him t

she opene

-

, eyes darker than she'd ever seen t

t h

to defend my

y are yo

pped insi

admitted. "Maybe

-

Argu

rembling. "You made me feel like

u a

"I was just another

to

, my brother, my trauma

ant to scar

ct people, Eliot.

le

shoved hi

move. Ju

hest again. "

t - not violently, jus

sk reports," he said. "I taste you in my coffee. I hear y

bli

because of you,

attered," she said. "Th

in years that feels real. I left you in the d

closer. E

ally feared... was t

-

e

ow who reached

't c

knew w

eat. It wasn't gentle. It wasn't sweet. It wa

ke she was oxyge

ke he was the sto

ls hit. Hair tangle

aw and full of everyt

breathless, eyes glassy, Eliot

top," he said

him dead

d... or leav

was all h