Hearing Red

by Nicole Maser

“I’d probably sleep easier with you next to me.” The words left her mouth before she realized what she was saying.

She realized then that she could probably wait forever if it meant hearing her voice.

And this time, she was too exhausted to make herself look away. She wanted to watch it. She wanted to watch—her.

“Its forest green,” her mom continued. “That’s your favorite color, right?” A warmth flared in Maddie’s chest, finally realizing why Saff had switched it for the other one.

In the back of her mind, she knew it wouldn’t stay warm for long, but it didn’t matter. She’d go into freezing cold water every day if it meant being with Saff.

“Even then, I wasn’t scared of losing the person that was helping me. I was just—“ She swallowed, biting her lip. “I was scared of losing you.”