Chapter 3

When Ethan finally opened his eyes, the first words out of his mouth were: "Where's Chloe? Is she okay?"

Evelyn’s hand froze mid-air holding a spoon of warm broth.

Thomas lowered the morning paper, his brows knitting into a deep scowl.

I sat by the edge of the bed, carefully peeling an apple, the blade never hesitating.

"She's fine. Just swallowed some water and scraped her arm."

Ethan let out a long breath of relief.

"Good. That's all that matters."

He tried to shift his legs.

His face shifted from calm to absolute terror in less than three seconds.

He ripped back the hospital blanket, staring in horror at his lower body.

Those two legs lay limp on the mattress, like two dead logs that didn't belong to him.

"What's wrong with my legs?!"

Nobody dared to answer.

The doctor entered the room to conduct sensory reflex tests.

A pen cap touched the sole of his foot. Nothing.

Tapped his knee. Nothing.

Pinched his upper thigh. Ethan's face drained of color, turning ash-gray.

"Are they ruined?!"

His voice cracked into a frantic tremble.

Chloe stood in the doorway, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Ethan, don't say that! You're going to get better, I know you will!"

Ethan’s head snapped toward me, his glare sharp as a scalpel.

"Nora! Why didn't you hold the rope?!"

I laid down the paring knife, turning my wrist toward him.

A bright, angry red welt ran across my skin—a friction burn from when the rope had snapped past.

"I grabbed it, Ethan! But you jumped so fast, it ripped right out of my hands!"

My voice cracked into a desperate sob, my eyes flooding with tears.

"You didn't even wait for me! You just threw yourself off the edge!"

Evelyn looked at the raw mark on my wrist, her expression torn between guilt and grief.

Ethan opened his mouth, completely speechless.

Chloe sobbed louder by the door.

I lowered my head and continued peeling the apple.

The blade glided smoothly against the crisp skin, peeling it in one unbroken, perfect ribbon.

Lie there and soak it in, Ethan.

Everything you owe me, I am going to reclaim piece by piece.

***