The Bound Between Us

Chapter 913

Anastasia was scared-no, she was flat-out panicking.

If something happened to her, fine. But if something happened to Herman? She couldn't take that. Lately, she'd been keeping her distance, not just out of nerves, but because she'd been feeling oddly itchy, a constant irritation that wouldn't quit no matter how hard she scratched.

She was terrified she'd caught something-something bad.

Lost and desperate, she blurted, "Come on, let's go get cleaned up."

She reached for his hand, but the second she remembered what she might have, she pulled back, guilt and fear twisting inside her.

Herman caught every bit of it-the fear, the anxious edge, the way she shrank away. He felt like his heart was being squeezed in a vice. His girl was trapped in this whirlwind of panic and pain. That smile she managed earlier? It was just a flicker, a trick of the light.

He'd do anything to make that smile last.

“Anastasia,” he said, his voice gentle and steady, hands resting on her shoulders, "listen to me. We're married. We're in this together. Don't push me away."

He pressed his forehead to hers, grounding her, trying to slow her racing thoughts.

"Let's stop torturing ourselves, okay? Life's short. How many years do we even get together? Three, five, ten, twenty... Eventually, we'll both be old, and if we miss out now, we'll never get that time back." He tried to pull her into a hug, but the ridiculous orange mascot costume he was still wearing got in the way.

Anastasia shook her head, tears streaming down. "Herman, you big dummy, what if you catch something from me? I'm... dirty..."

some pills, remember? You can't even be sure what really happened. Maybe nothing happened at all.

lie. He hadn't been in that cave, had no idea what had actually happened. All he

a split second, hope flickered in Anastasia's heart. She wanted so badly to believe it was all just her

that was

was feeling, there was no way nothing

her lip, struggling to get the

voice soft as ever. He never spoke harshly

looked up. The house was still and quiet. Outside, the night

gentle smile

that tunnel, I really thought I'd never see you again. I thought it was over. I had so many regrets. I hadn't loved you enough, hadn't shown you the world, hadn't gotten to grow old with you, hadn't watched our kids grow up. All I wanted was to make it

sounded so calm, but Anastasia could hear the weight behind his words.

the first time he'd ever talked about what he went through

blurred

was terrified back then. Scared I'd never get to hold you again. Anastasia, when it

been through life and death

that close to the edge, all you want is to live. Just being alive is the biggest

world really was

up at the sky, then at Herman, and realized

she had-people could