Adrian My back aches and my neck feels so tight after sleeping by Clara’s side for the entirety of the night. I am hunched over the side of the bed, our hands connected and fingers laced together. A yawn comes from my lips as I sit up. Clara sleeps peacefully beside me. Her blonde hair is perfectly curled and her lips lack the usual vibrant pink color they have to them, looking pale rather than being full of life. I look down and see that I am still in my suit from the gala. I groan and stand from the hospital room’s chair, releasing my hand from Clara’s weak one. She groans and reaches out for the air in front of me. I smile and shrug off my jacket, slipping the tie off from around my neck, and sit back down, connecting our hands once again. My thumb grazes over her knuckles, the skin