If We Disappear Here

by Mindy Hayes

Ledger’s throat bobs with a heavy swallow. “For me. If not for you, do it for me. I mean… I’m not ready to give up, but I will without you.”

When I pry my eyes open, there’s a sheen of something new in his amber green eyes. A trace of tenderness my heart both latches on to and can’t bear. It’s enough to keep holding on and make me collapse into his arms, clinging to his optimism. He will not break us.

“I’m not going to make it out of this sane.” A choked whisper. “You are because I’m here. I’m here. You have my voice.” His breath washes across my skin. “My touch.” His hand brushes my arm, my neck, before finding my jaw, cradling me. “My heartbeat.” Ledger locates my hand and holds my palm over his chest. “You feel that? I’m alive. You’re alive. We haven’t disappeared yet. Not even the darkness can take us.”

Ledger presses his lips right below my ear, his hand lost in my unkempt hair. “Did you hear that, Goldie? We made it.” Head falling to my shoulder, he kisses the curve of my neck, over and over. “We made it.”