Page 82 of Molt

“You said you could stop it.”

“I thought I could.”

Her hand trembles as the blade catches moonlight. “I woke up with your tooth in my mouth.”

I say nothing.

“And your scar on my hand.”

“I know.”

“You’re losing weight.”

“I know.”

“Your hair is falling out.”

“I know.”

“STOP SAYING THAT.” Her scream tears across the frozen field.

I flinch.

She presses the knife against her throat.

“No.” My voice breaks. “Lenora.”

“If I die, it stops.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Neither do you.”

“Please.”

“Don’t come closer.”

I do anyway.

One step.

Her blade presses harder. A thin red line appears.

Every part of me goes cold. “I’ll stop loving you.”

She laughs. It’s the ugliest sound I’ve ever heard. “You can’t.”

“I can.”

“No, you can’t.”

“I swear.”

“You told me last night you’d love me until there was nothing left of you.”

My chest caves. “I was wrong.”

“You’re a liar.”