Page 150 of Break Me

She'll tell me she's fine.

She'll climb on anyway.

But I can't let her.

"Wait here."

She watches me for a moment but doesn't ask why.

I turn and head back inside. Knox looks up as soon as I step through the door.

His eyes search my face. "What happened?"

"Can I borrow your truck?"

Knox's eyes drift to the front window. Raven stands beside the bike, one hand resting on the seat. He looks back at me, concern settling across his face.

Without a word, he pulls his keys from his pocket and tosses them over. "Take care of her."

I catch them. "I will."

Neither of us says another word.

When I walk back outside, Raven hasn’t moved. She notices the keys in my hand.

"What happened?"

I unlock the truck and pull open the passenger door.

"I changed my mind."

She studies me for a long moment. She knows.

Without another word, she climbs in.

The drive home is quiet. Raven rests her head against the window, her eyes drifting closed now and then. Every few minutes, I catch myself looking over. Just to make sure she's still there. To make sure she's okay.

The doctors told us this would happen.

Fatigue.

Dizziness.

Days when her body would quietly begin asking more of her than it could give.

I thought I understood what that meant.

I didn't.

Knowing it was coming is nothing like watching it arrive.

When we pull into the driveway, I cut the engine and walk around to open her door before she can reach for the handle herself.

She smiles at me, tired but still unmistakably Raven.

I offer my hand, and she takes it.

Nothing around us looks different. But everything has changed.