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..."

it over, but he suddenly dropped

find it,"

at his side profile-his damp hair clung to his forehead; even the corners of his eyes seemed misty, his cheeks flushed

open the car door, and said, "I'll look. But if

hummed a soft reply. The snow was falling fast

took

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

car

slowly rolled it down. His face was still flushed with the fever, and his hair whipped

planned to fake it-wander a bit

at

like some feral, red-draped spirit-fragile, powerful, and impossible to

somehow, he made

ever feel pity for him. And yet,

She

Med her gaze quickly

bet

the window. Stay put. I'll go find it, You want magnolias, right? I'll get

a response, she marched into

However, after ten minutes of wading through the. snow there it was-a flash of crimson nestled against

a wall. yel

the ghostly white of the world, shockingly

in disbelief

the delicate bloom, a rush of fragmented memories tore

children clung to each other for

jolted with tremor. She instinctively glanced around, then moved

feet, she spotted a

lurch, hammering painfully in her

straight into one

and a