Chapter 15

Summer's POV I had been staying at the hospital with Felix for seven days straight. The scent of antiseptic had seeped into my skin, and the cold white lights overhead made my eyes feel dry and strained. I hardly left the stiff, narrow visitor's chair beside his bed, only returning home briefly to shower and change clothes when absolutely necessary. "You've been here for days without a break," Alexander said softly, his arm wrapping gently around my shoulders as he coaxed me to my feet. "Today, I'm taking you somewhere." My instinct was to refuse—I didn't want to be even a step away from Felix. But Alexander's hand enclosed mine with patient firmness. "Felix is stable for now. The nurses will watch over him. You need fresh air, Summer. Please. Just for a few hours." The concern in his eyes made it impossible to say no. And maybe… maybe he was right. I needed to breathe something other than antiseptic and grief. "Okay," I said quietly, "But we have to be back in time for dinner." He smi