a

ooth and nail to survive, the one that had stolen five years of my life, was running out. Three

and endured starvation, all while holding onto the memory of Derek. He was my anchor, my reason. I had refused every temptation, every oppor

he game promised a return to my reality, to him. And I knew, with every fiber of my being, that my life support, the actual medical equip

My broken ankle throbbed, a dull, insistent ache that threatened t

y against the newly formed rockslid

ou do this? Five years! You promised to search fo

ewhere beyond me, his jaw clenched so

t... it's failing." My voice cracked. I watched his face for any flic

vy, suffocat

d behind him, finding another hand. A woman' s h

t behind Derek, half-hidden by his broad frame, was a woman. She was pale, her featur

clinging to Derek as if

les white. His eyes, when they fin

ice flat. No emotion. No regret

eptible swelling beneath Casey's loose-fit

hurned. The

. Her eyes welled up, big and innocent. "Eva," she whi

eyes brimming with tears. "You always did this, Eva.

"Ruin what?" I m

ed, but clear enough. "You stole my research proposal, claimed it as your own. You took my spot on the deep-sea missi

y protectively. "I have a three-year-old, Eva! Our son! And another baby on t

her closer, stroking her hair. He turned to me, his face ha

w you were always cruel to Casey. I tried to warn you. But you

His voice dropped, low and menacing. "I won't

three days," he repeated, his voice devoid of any real remorse. "Just three d

iss. A kiss that stole the last breath from my lungs. My legs felt like lead,