“Don’t make me…”
She swallowed and brought my hand up and kissed my knuckles. My hand was so much bigger than even both of hers put together.
“You taught me that there’s so much to life. You taught me that it’s worth living. You found me and showed me who I really am. Laying in bed like some Fairytale princess isn’t living. It’s a curse. I refuse to be cursed.”
I inched as close as I could to her and rested my forehead against hers.
“I’ve thought about this for days,” she admitted, her voice so rational and calm. “I’m going to tell the doctors I request a Do Not Resuscitate order. Besides, you already said it won’t happen, so really, you’re worrying over nothing. Because I always believe everything you say, Severen. You know that.”
Chapter 10
CRUX
“Ineedafix,”I said, admitting my weakness.
“No,” Halo said firmly. “No drugs.”
“I know, I know. I’m just… thinking out loud.” I let out a long breath.
“I wonder what Skye wanted to talk to Sev about,” Halo asked.
When I didn’t answer, she looked me over. I knew I looked like shit. I felt like shit. I was barely keeping it together and all I wanted was to just burn it all away with a pipe or a needle or a fucking line orsomething.
“I’ll be two years sober this year,” I told her.
“I know.” There was a quiet pride in her voice, like she was happy for me. It was strange to hear.
She tweaked my sleeve and started walking. “C’mon.”
I followed. “Where are we going?”
Halo said nothing. Instead, she walked to the elevators and pressed the button.
“Don’t we want to stay close? In case of emergency?”
“You have your phone, right? Sev has mine. He’ll text if something happens.”
The elevator announced its arrival with a gentle chime before the doors slid open. Halo and I walked in and she hit the button for floor 2.
“You know I’ve always had empathy for your situation, Crux,” she said. “I know I can be distant and standoffish, but even when we were kids I always had a soft spot for you.”
I eyed Halo, the beautiful, worldly, high fashion model who looked even more lustrous when standing next to me.
“Where are you going with this?” I asked.
“I know you need release. And I’ve found a way to help you with that.”
My mind instantly jumped to the most obvious conclusion. “...uh…”
She snickered. “Not what I meant, you pervert.”
“Well, what else am I supposed to think when you say it that way?”
The doors to the elevator parted and I followed her down yet another colourless, modern hallway. Even if I was blind I would be able to follow the distinct click of her stylish shoes on the linoleum floor.
Halo’s grin lingered until we got to a nurse’s station. I stood next to her and picked a pamphlet out of a display on the desk.
Managing Aura Sickness.
