When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

I turned to meet her guilt-ridden gaze, and in that moment, I knew Warren was right all along.

Clyde's brain was damaged, but not to the point of affecting his nerves.

It was highly probable that Rachel was behind it.

But she was crafty, managing to fool everyone, even bypassing medical examinations.

Maybe, as she claimed, fate was on her side, granting her this one opportunity.

She remained silent, so I pressed on, "Would you harm Clyde?"

"He was poisoned by a lover before, a toxin that would take three years to completely metabolize."

"To save me once, he endured radiation from a mine."

"Are you bragging about how much he loves you?"

Rachel stood up abruptly, her gaze filled with bitterness.

"So what if I am? He doesn't remember any of it!"

"Rachel, his body can't take much more, physically or mentally."

I didn't want to be too blunt, knowing it could provoke her.

together during college for four years, and I knew her

Rachel pondered for a moment

long as you step back, and he's devoted only

as she looked

the Clyde of the past,

words, she paused, then

realizing she wouldn't let Clyde go. Her love

hoped for a future where I wasn't

Clyde's love all to herself, without

Clyde woke up, he had to be solely devoted to her.

Clyde remembered, she

looking for me at the hospital, finding me still

you, and you weren't answering your

trying to pull me up, but I was somewhat

mind felt like it had crashed, unable to come up

asking, "Melanie, how long have you been sitting here? Let's head back to the ward."

start a new phase of treatment, don't

to explain,

practically dragged back to the ward

had stayed

practically a year-round

stay healthy, I'd hang a

I quickly