Page 9

SEVEREN

I was, of course, over the moon when Skye regained consciousness, but ever since Dr. Houser’s initial visit, she was different.

She spent most of her days sleeping. She didn’t speak a lot.

The Skye I loved, that I bit and bonded , would have gathered her strong, unwavering spirit and stayed positive.

Skye as she was now was despondent, and sullen.

We were all in her room, watching a movie. The credits began to roll and Skye said, “Can I talk to Severen alone for a bit?”

Halo and Crux looked at her, then at me. I offered a subtle nod. They got up, each kissed her head, and left the room. Crux tried to linger until Halo closed the door behind them.

I pulled my chair closer to her. “What is it?” I took her hand, kissed her knuckles, careful of the IV ports and thick medical tape.

Her eyes filled with tears and her scent turned hollow and dusty, like dehydrated flowers. Whatever was on her mind had been weighing on her for some time.

“I can’t do this,” she confessed.

“Of course you can,” I rubbed her forearm.

“I’d be taking someone’s heart.” The tears fell freely down her cheeks. “Someone has to die so I can live. It’s so wrong.”

“Skye, Skye, it’s not like that.” I stroked her hair and tried to console her. “It’s not like that at all.”

“It’s exactly like that.”

I tried to be rational. “If you don’t get that heart, someone else will.”

“Maybe they should.”

My aura rippled with discomfort. “You don’t mean that.”

She lowered her beautiful ocean-blue eyes. “No. I’m sorry.”

I licked my lips and tried another technique. “Are you an organ donor?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you decide to become one?” I brought her hand to my cheek and nuzzled her dainty, knuckles. I hadn’t shaved, and my cheeks were stubbly. What if my gesture of affection hurt her?

“To save a life.”

“I’m sure that’s exactly what other organ donors think when they sign up, too. That’s their exact purpose. They might pass, but they can help others live.”

“If it’s not my heart, am I still me?”

The question shocked me. I never expected her mind to go to such a place.

“Of course you’re still you,” I said.

“I’m not so sure.”

“Skye, a heart is just a muscle that pumps blood. It’s not who you are. It’s not who any of us are.”

“So, you’ll still love me even if I have someone else’s heart?”

“Of course I will. Without question.”

“Promise?”

“I swear.”

She almost smiled but not quite. I knew that she hadn’t exorcized everything that was bothering her.

“There’s something else…” she said after a sniffle.

She looked at me and took one of my hands in both of hers. It was the most proactive she had been since learning her diagnosis.

“I want you to promise me another thing, Severen.”

I didn’t like the plea in her eyes, turning her oceanic gaze stormy.

“What is it?”

“I don’t want to be hooked up to machines. If something happens—”

I didn’t want to hear this. “Skye–”

She didn’t even falter. “...and I don’t wake up–”

“That’s not going to happe–”

“I need you to let me go.”

“Skye-”

“I know Halo and Crux will fight it, but you need to be the pack lead and you need to do what’s right.”

The silence was thick in the air, even the constant beep and whirr of the machines keeping her alive seemed to quiet themselves with the tension brought by this conversation.

“Don’t make me…”

She swallowed and brought my hand up and kissed my knuckles. My hand was so much bigger than even both of hers put together.

“You taught me that there’s so much to life. You taught me that it’s worth living. You found me and showed me who I really am. Laying in bed like some Fairytale princess isn’t living. It’s a curse. I refuse to be cursed.”

I inched as close as I could to her and rested my forehead against hers.

“I’ve thought about this for days,” she admitted, her voice so rational and calm.

“I’m going to tell the doctors I request a Do Not Resuscitate order.

Besides, you already said it won’t happen, so really, you’re worrying over nothing.

Because I always believe everything you say, Severen. You know that.”