Elena sat motionless on the hospital bed, her gaze fixed emptily on her own feet. After a moment, she closed her eyes and drew a long breath. When she opened them again, her view drifted toward the glass window.
The snow was beginning to thin as winter neared its end. The frozen branches of the trees had started to thaw, stirring back to life to welcome the coming spring. Flowers would bloom again, and the weather would lose its biting chill.
But her heart was what felt frozen now. The love that had once blossomed so beautifully had withered. There was no warmth or happiness left, only the ache of betrayal by the one person she had built her entire life around.
Elena took another breath that felt heavy in her chest. As she blinked, tears escaped and traced paths down her cheeks.
"This
