“Markham says that he’ll put you through the first year without telling your mother. By the time she finds out, you’ll already be inducted as a scribe. There’s nothing she can do after that.” He lifts his other hand so he’s holding my face between both palms, tipping it up toward his. “Please. If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for me.” My heart stutters, and I sway, his reasoning tugging me toward exactly what he’s suggesting. But you’ve made it this far, a part of me whispers. “I can’t lose you, Violet,” he whispers, resting his forehead against mine. “I just…can’t.”
second read: I'm still counting this in attempt #3 because it's still in the same scene, but it feels like a separate attempt, he's pulling out all the stops on this one.
