Chapter 74

I surge forward, pressing my lips to his. "I love you," I scratch my nails against his scalp, pulling back only to kiss him again.. "I love you." He responds eagerly and it seems like we're a broken record as he repeats it back. And we kiss until we're tired and before we fall asleep, we whisper it again into darkness. Belle pulls me aside the next morning, nails digging into my forearm. "Stella was crying last night." She breaches, "I didn't know what to do so I did nothing." "Is she awake?" Belle nods and I take her with me to the room. Like Belle said, Stella is awake and leaning against the wall. Her long hair has been pulled back and the black streaks are gone, left only dark bags and unusual paleness. She looks at me with dull eyes and croaks, "Tylenol?" "I think food is better for you at this time." So Belle goes to retrieve food and when she returns, Stella eats slowly, but it's progress.