Ashley POV

My name slipped out of his chapped lips in a whisper, like the soft flutter of wings. His voice sounded so hesitant, so skeptical, so flustered, I was not sure what to say to him back. So, I chose to nod, then lowered my gaze to the dirty floor.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you,” I muttered.

“Why?”

His tone was hard to guess. Partly because he spoke so quietly that I could barely hear him over the beating of my own heart, which had regained its beat, thankfully. And partly because I was so scared and anxious to answer, I felt sick.

“Because...”...