“Think of something else,” I begged, my voice cracking. Panic like I’d only ever experienced once in my life seized my core, crushing my lungs. “Anything else. Distract yourself.” Aveen couldn’t die. I couldn’t let her. “Don’t go to him. Stay with me. Please. Please.” My freedom wasn’t worth it. Wasn’t worth her. I removed my hand from Aveen’s mouth, her face ghostly pale when I turned her in my arms. Come back to me. Please.
