Page 51

WHAT IT MEANT TO ME

ALEX

The clouds part when Mila’s eyes open. Like the whole world decides to wake with her. Sunshine breaks through a rainy summer day to welcome her back.

I thought there was no getting closer to death than when I faced it at my trial, but that paled in comparison to watching Mila cross over that line. For the first time in my life, defeat had its nasty fingers around my neck.

I’d never known silence until it was broken with a single beat of Mila’s heart, returning sound to the world.

Returning her to me.

“Welcome back, angel.” I smile, brushing her hair off her face.

Her eyelids flutter as she turns her head to face me. Her green eyes are hazy. Her cheeks are drained of color. But she’s here.

“Alex.” Her voice is hoarse and barely sounds like her. “What happened? I thought I was gone.”

“You’re back. That’s all that matters.”

“Did I—” She swallows the question.

“Just please don’t ever do that to me again.” My heart jumps to my throat at the thought of it.

A weak smile crawls up in the corner of her mouth. “And spare you a little heartache to keep you on your toes? Not a chance.”

“You think you’re funny now, huh?” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “Joke all you want. You’re not leaving this world without me.”

She swallows hard, and I think it sinks in for both of us at the same time. How close she came to death. How I wouldn’t have survived if she hadn’t come back.

I grind that thought down. “We don’t need to think about that. I’m here. Always.”

Tears brim her eyes. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

Her eyes flutter, exhaustion seeping from her bones, and I brush the tear that rolls down her cheek.

“Everything hurts.” She closes her eyes. “I feel like I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“That’s okay. Sleep. You need your rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Her fingers tighten through mine, but she doesn’t open her eyes. “Please don’t leave me, Alex.”

“I never could,” I whisper, planting a kiss on her arm. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Mila drifts to sleep at my words, and I don’t leave her side. I offer her what she offered me once, whether she realized what it meant to me or not at the time. She kept me company at Montgomery, even when I didn’t ask for it. She gave me something to look forward to. Something to live for.

She pulled me back from the dead, so that’s what I’ll do for her.