Her pleas felt like a knife straight through Herman's chest.

Swallowing his bitterness, he walked over and set the bowl of bird's nest soup

gently on the nightstand.

You spend enough time in the dark, and eventually your eyes adjust—you start to

see everything.

Herman sat at the edge of the bed, his voice soft and gentle. "Honey, try to eat a

little, okay?"

Anastasia looked at him, and before she could even speak, tears poured down

her face.

She shook her head, struggling to keep it together. But when Herman's hand

reached for her forehead, she flinched, instinctively pulling back, her eyes wide

with fear. "Don't—don't touch me."

His hand froze in the air, his pupils contracting.

He swallowed, the pain sharp and jagged, like swallowing shards of glass.

Holding himself back, Herman lowered his hand and tried to make himself smaller,

afraid of scaring her even more.

"I'll just leave it here, alright? And the medicine too, it's right here. I'll be over on

the couch if you need anything. Just call me, okay?"

His voice was so quiet—almost pleading.

He still couldn't shake the memory of finding her by the roadside, the surge of

rage that made him want to tear apart whoever had hurt her.

Herman backed away and sat on the sofa. Anastasia leaned against the

headboard, slowly letting herself relax.

at the bed, one on

herself thinking, If only

how long they stayed like that, just the two of

Herman finally broke the

remember everything now, Ana. All of it. I remember

over the edge. Joy and heartbreak

why now, of all

hard, refusing to break down in front

let

even know when the tears on her face

stretch on forever.

sat on her tongue,

swallow.

Her voice broke as she covered her face, sobs

shoulders.

could guess the words

He wanted to go to her—he even half-stood—but then

too scared

to change

canceled Pattie's birthday party.

have another one for her

Emmie and

are quick

all at Salstrom Manor

mom, who's still

Your dad..."

drew a

the air slicing through

night, after I left

got in a cab...

happened

up, I

There were four men..."

was strangely calm, but under the covers, her fists were clenched

dug into her palms,

down my throat. After that, I couldn't control my

Herman,

drained, like all the strength had left

hurt—her heart, her soul, her whole

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