Under Your Scars (Under Your Scars, #1)

by Ariel N. Anderson

“She’s so close to slipping away, and I can’t lose her, Edwin. I can’t. I wouldn’t survive it.” I take a deep breath. “I didn’t know love could be so hard. I feel like no matter what I do, no matter how much I love her, it will never be enough.” “Aye, love is hard. But that’s why we cherish it so much.” He takes my hands in his. “Your happiness means everything to me, you know, and I want what you have with her to last for an eternity.” I squeeze his hands and suck my bottom lip in between my teeth as I think. “So how do I make it last an eternity?” “By remembering that a gilded cage is still a cage.” I tighten my jaw. I want to defend myself, but what is there to defend? He’s right. He’s so right and I don’t think he even realizes the extent of it. Wisdom is what Edwin does best, and he’s never let me down in that regard. I gulp. “How do I open the cage?” “Give her the keys.” “What if she leaves? I just said I couldn’t handle that. If I lose her, then my entire life means nothing. I might as well have…” I trail off, because I don’t know if Edwin remembers my suicide attempt the night I met Elena, and if he doesn’t, then it’s better for it to stay that way. “If she leaves, then you didn’t love her the way she wanted you to.” I huff. “How am I supposed to know the way she wants to be loved?” Edwin smacks me, again, with the newspaper. “By listening. Something you’ve never been good at."