Chapter 166 Becoming the One She Can't Reach

"I'm fine! Were you worried sick about me?" Hearing her soft voice, I felt a lump rise in my throat. My eyes burned, guilt lacing my voice. There was no way she was fine. She'd almost lost her leg. "I've been really worried. How are you doing now? I'm so sorry—this is all my fault. If it weren't for me…" "No 'what ifs,'" Lila interrupted gently but firmly. "You being okay is the biggest relief for me. What happened to me has nothing to do with you, so stop blaming yourself. Instead of beating yourself up, how about you make some time to come visit me? Oh, and bring something delicious while you're at it." Her joke caught me off guard, and I chuckled despite myself. If she could still crack jokes, her mindset must be in a decent place. That thought eased my anxiety, if only a little. "Alright," I replied, "I'll visit soon. Give me two days. I'll cook up something special and bring it over." "Okay," I said quickly. "Follow the doctor's instructions, and if you need a