... co

her down like lead, and her limbs refused to obey. After a few seconds of struggling, sh

h fury, fists clenched at his sides lik

the room, eyes wid

oing? She's burning u

m out of whatever stor

pped to Lydia's flushed, tear-streaked face. She looke

flickered in his expression.

raking a hand through

lieved she could just disappear-like that would fi

ot a

, his voice lo

ss I say so. As long as you're breathing, you st

ice, every word s

ay there, staring up at him with

silently dow

ng Lydia's condition. "I'll go get the

The ceiling above her blurred, but his

die? Not unle

bitter laugh,

ays found new w

. Would i

idn't

.

with both fists clenched, foreh

n her eyes-like she'd given up, but

m-rage mixed with somethin

ave for once? Always had to pu

lammed it against the wall, trying to

ydia was discharged

told her to stay put and pack her things wh

me, out front

and quickly opened the back

s feet, he turned to his daughter with

probably have plenty on your own plate. No ne

If you have a hospital check-up, I'd be a terrible daughter if I

at her words, his

weet mouth-like it'

Clara said as she linked arms with him. "

hatted and laughed a

tepped in, Cla

uickly, "Dad, you go on up-I just ne

it off. "Alrig

upstairs like he'd done it a hundr

a still hadn't returned, he figur

corner, someone in a

scattered on the floor, though he mana

top or say sorry-just di

.." Charles muttere

when a petite figure stepped in front of him,

instinctively taking it

a soft, beautiful face-her eyes curved when

t his heart. She f

lady," he said w

responded with a soft chu

n, her ph

creen, and her expre

e bit her lip and