Chapter 75

Chapter 75 "Kylan""

Katrina looked down the hallway in the direction of his bedroom and paused when she saw a light on. She wasted no more time, forcing her feet to carry her in the direction of his room. The knowledge that Ryan was on his way was furling her, knowing she wouldn't be alone in her quest to help Kylan

not startle him

him, the

She stepped into Kylan's room and quickly found him on the floor of his closet, a black shoebox situated on his lap. Slowly as to not knelt in front of him, placing a worried hand on his knee.

"Kylan, what are you doing in here?" she whispered to him.

"She was my best friend." Rylan mumbled, staring at a picture he seemed to have pulled from the box on his lap.

"Who was, Kylan?" She moved to sit next to him, trying her best not to notice how awful his hands were.

"Y-Yasmin." He showed her the picture and she saw that it was of Kylan and two other prople, a girl, and a boy. The boy looked to be his same age and the girl appeared to be a little bit younger, perhaps,

She took the picture from him, realizing it was an old one from a disposable camera, maybe. The colors were a bit faded, but she could easily tell that it was taken in Rhode Island at the beach. Kylan wasn't smiling, his arms were folded over his chest, and both of his friends each had an arm of their own around his shoulders in turn.

Though Kylan looked as stoic as he ever did, his eyes were son. So soft. It was clear he cared for the individuals in the photograph.

"Who is the boy?" she softly asked him.

James. He isn't dead, but he hates me. Kylan sighed, taking the picture from her and returning it to the box

She looked at him, wondering if he might listen to her now and let her tend to his hands. "Kylan, will you let me help you!"

Kylan stared at her, his eyes unfocused. She was thus incredibly surprised when he smiled at her. It was a sad smile. The saddest smile she had ever seen. It broke her heart all over again.

"Katrina, beautiful Katrina. You're too good. Too pure. Too perfect. You chose right, leaving me." Even though his words were slurred, they still cut right through her.

"I don't want to leave you, Kylan. I never wanted to" She knew it made no sense trying to explain anything to him while he was so out of it, but she couldn't help it. Somehow Kylan thinking she wanted to leave him. It wasn't right. Even with as much as he had hurt her, she cared for him.

It was never about wanting to leave him behind. None of it was ever about that.

"You should want to. I've hurt you. I've hurt so many people. I'm f*cked up. A f*ck up Kylan sighed and leaned his forehead against hers, gripping her face with his hand, despite how red it was. "But you cared for me, didn't you, Kate? You saw me. And I can't let that happen. I can't. It's too much I can't let you die."

Nothing he was saying was making sense. "Kylan, I'm not dying. I'm okay. I'm right here," she insisted.

I'm sorry, Kate. I'm sorry I hurt you. I was scared

mind was swimming with confusion, brartache, and even

even with a

minuscule amount

you. Please, let me." She cupped the sides of his face, shifting so she was situated on her knees. "Let me clean your hands. We can

as

Kate. I'm a monster. You need to get away from me. Kylan whispered back to her, his cheeks flushing ever more beneath her hands. "Co, before I get

Trying to make sense of what he was

kissing the inside of her wrist. "I can't. Iran, He

"Kylan? Katrina?"

unmistakable voice carried from outside the bedroom door at that

Kylan's shoulder once and stood, walking out and meeting Ryan in the hallway "Ryan, thank you. I'm. He won't let me help him." She couldn't stop the tears from flowing now and they cascaded

pressing her face gently into his chest. "Something like this happens every year, but never this bad. Even I have never seen Kylan's apartment

13

Chapter 73

the floor of his closet. He's talking about someone named Yasmin" she explained to him, wiping her eyes

let him do that if he wants to But you should know that his friend Yasmin died nine years ago today, and he blames himself. That's part of his guilt and inner turmoil. He glanced into the bedroom.

anywhere. I. I care about Kylan. He's.

that care is what he needs right now." With

after him, keeping her distance while Ryan knelt and helped Kylan to

over his shoulder shower. Will you start making

to be given an assignment

fuck off mir, old mal. I

Ryan's hands off him. "You're not going to see me naked" he added venomously with

the doorway of the bedroom. "L. I mean.. I

shower her boss, but with the look Ryan gave her, he was not at all surprised. She wondered what he knew about her relationship with Kylan, but that was a question for another day. Kylan, can I help you shower?" she ventured to

don't need help. Kylin mumbled,

me" She came to Kylan's other side and together with Ryan, she walked

Ryan, who only nodded at her before disappearing to

She pulled off Kylan's glasses, setting them down

at her, but her own expression

reached forward, grabbing the hem of his shirt and pulling

limp noodle as she bent down to take off his socks next, though she could feel

standing position with her hands on his hips. He swayed

take off her pants, okay? Just so you can shower," she warned him, her

here. You should be far away from me. I'm a

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