"How is your shoulder?" Shamira felt incredibly callous at not having asked earlier. Renata had risked her life going into a burning building to save her and had gotten cut and burned in the process.

"It finished healing up a few days ago." Renata cut off phrases like "no big deal" or "we heal quickly." These probably weren't wise things to say to a woman in a wheelchair.

Shamira wiped her eyes, making sure that she hadn't bled tears again. Every moment of her life still seemed so painful. If Clara had not bonded their fates together for another several weeks, Shamira probably would have killed herself within days. Now,...