Regret Came Too Late

Outside, the snow kept falling. In the distance, the landscape was nothing but rubble, and beyond that, an endless stretch of bleak gray sky.

Ethan's fingers stayed locked with hers; the heat of his skin was a smoldering presence she couldn't ignore.

Grace didn't have it in her to be cruel-not when he asked so quietly to just be allowed this.

The minutes dragged painfully, and his fever only worsened.

Eventually, she couldn't sit still any longer. She reached for the bottle of water, ready to coax him into drinking again.

His eyes fluttered open-glazed, foggy, as if he wasn't sure where he was.

"Mr. Bennett's gone, Mr. Henderson. Let's head back first. Even if there's no medicine, lying down will be better than staying here," she reasoned.

Instead of responding, Ethan slowly dragged his tie, his movements sluggish from the fever.

Grace quickly pressed her hand against his chest to stop him and re-fastened the tie.

Normally, he was all sharp lines and strict precision, never leaving a button undone.

Grace lowered her eyes, fingers deftly tying the knot. She decided she wouldn't wait for Tim anymore-she would get Ethan back herself.

Just then, Ethan's scalding hand closed over hers.

"We're not going back," he rasped, his voice wrecked by the fever. "There are magnolias nearby... did you know?"

Grace had no clue where they were, only realizing more and more that he was completely out of it.

"Alright, magnolias. If you want to see them, I'll go pick some for you," she said, playing along.

But his eyes lit up instantly, hope flashing through the fevered haze.

"What?" he said, surprised.

Grace blinked in disbelief-seriously? In this frozen wasteland?

"Mr. Henderson..."

to gloss it over, but he suddenly dropped

find it," he

damp hair clung to his forehead; even the corners of his eyes

and said, "I'll look. But if I can't

hummed a soft reply. The snow was falling fast now, blanketing everything

step Grace took

walked toward the woods, but after a few paces, worry

the car and

was still flushed with the fever,

to fake it-wander a bit and grab something

at him shattered that

like some feral,

he made her want to do anything

ever feel pity for him. And yet, here

She

Med her gaze

bet

Stay put. I'll go find it,

a response, she marched into

thought Ethan was delirious, making up things that didn't exist. However, after ten minutes of wading through the. snow there it was-a flash of crimson nestled against the ruins

a wall. yel

magnolias. They burned bright against the

blinked in disbelief before stepping

hand reached out. The instant she brushed the delicate bloom, a rush of fragmented

the pitch-black cave, two children clung to each other

around, then moved

spotted a

heart lurch,

was like stepping straight into

dream, she and a little boy had