#Chapter 128: Bondage

Jack and I fall into each other's arms. My heart thrums as memories rush back - the forest, the trap, the terror and pain we endured together. Now a warmth spreads through my chest. I'm overcome with an unexpected euphoria, like the missing fragment of my soul has clicked back into place. It’s an unexpected wave of relief after months of angst. What the hell? I force the smile from my lips and take a wary step back, confusion swirling. We nearly died out there. Why does seeing Jack now make me feel safer, more complete? This should feel heavy, not...right. Jack's blue eyes shine kindly through his glasses. "I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to see you alive.” The wind picks up. Strands of my hair dance around my face. Jack tucks my hair behind my ears. This intimate gesture electrifies me. My mind flies to Kadeem. What if he were to see? But there's an undeniable sense of joy, relief, and most ashamedly, a desperate desire to be close to Jack. I can nei