Chapter 70.

I stood outside of Leo’s room, my hand resting on the door knob as I gulped down the regret and woeful misery of having to leave him behind. I inhaled a deep breath and opened the door, and my heart fell just a little bit more to see him lying so still, so unaware in the hospital bed. Fresh new bandages wrapped around his slow healing wounds, and his cheeks weren’t as sunken and bruised as they had been. His breathing was regular and steady as I sat on the edge of his bed and scooped his hand into mine, fondly admiring each finger as I grazed my thumb across them and brought them up to my lips to leave a lingering kiss and feel the warmth of his skin on mine.

As the humid breeze flowed calmly through the open window and the sun lit up the room, I closed my eyes and imagined us walking together outside, hand in hand, laughing and smiling as he pulls me in for a loving kiss. Although we were alone, with Caleb whisking Addison off for breakfast to give me some peace with Leo, oh how I wi