“Don’t hurt me.” As I heard her faint plea, a pang of heartbreak struck me. Stepping out of the room with Caleb, I couldn't shake the disbelief coursing through me. Seeing Jade in a hospital, vulnerable and struggling, was a sight I never anticipated. Witnessing her battle, a panic attack in my presence felt like a crushing weight on my chest. She was meant to feel safe with me, and yet, the fear in her voice shattered that belief.
How had I become the antagonist in her narrative? What had transpired to make her view me with such apprehension? Sinking onto the bench outside her room, I hunched over, elbows on my knees, head in my hands. Devastation washed over me, a raw and overwhelming ache that I couldn't contain. A shaky breath escaped my lips, the tremor in it betraying the turmoil wi
