#Chapter 28: The Almost Kiss

Laying in Alston’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, a flood of regret and guilt washes over me. “H-how could he be so cruel?” Alston slowly pulls the pins out of my updo and massages my scalp in that way, that makes me calm down, but this time it doesn’t work so easily and he whispers my name, “Elise, baby breath.” The tears soak into his torn shirt, mingling with the grime and blood. I clung to him, my body wracked with sobs, “No he is willing to let you die to prove a point. I don’t know him anymore, Alston. I can’t defend him.” “Elise, I will not die too easily,” I shake the loosened curls into my face, unable to be so delusional with my medical background. I count the days, possibly hours he has left and it only makes the tears rip through me harder. “I’m so sorry, Alston,” I choked out between sobs. “I got you into this mess. It’s all my fault.” His arms tightened around me, and he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “Elise, it’s not your fault,” he murmured, his v