-- Alexander --

The instant Grizelda left, the room was quiet. I could feel my heart pounding as I couldn't stop thinking about how she tore herself away from me as if I was a hot coal that had burned her. Maybe I was. Maybe after everything, I had become a flame she no longer wanted to be burned by.

I rubbed my hand down my face and breathed deeply. It wasn't too long ago that I had convinced myself that I no longer cared. That I had lost her for good and was going to swallow it that way. And it was for no other reason but some sense...