Page 156 of Marks of Rebellion

"Any chance of getting fry jacks on this ship?"

He grins. "I think that can be arranged."

"What is that?" I ask.

"Belizean breakfast food. I'll let you try mine."

"Deal."

Vanessa takes a deep breath. "So..."

We both wait for her to finish.

She nervously says, "Am I crazy?"

"No, you aren't," I blurt out.

"Hunter, let the doctor answer, please."

I take a deep breath, and she squeezes my hand and puts her head on my shoulder.

Faron smiles. "You aren't crazy. But you've had severe trauma, and when you get wherever you're going, I highly recommend you find a great therapist. This isn't something that's going to go away on its own."

"I'm always going to be messed up?"

"No. I'm not saying that. But I think you'll struggle to deal with all you've been through without therapy."

I turn to her. "We'll find someone you're comfortable with when we get settled."

She bites her cheek and nods.

"I can give you some anti-anxiety medication. It might help with your panic attacks for the time being."

"If I take it, do I have to for the rest of my life?"

"Not at all. But it could be a big help right now."

She arches her eyebrows at me.

"Why don't you take it, and if you don't like it, you can stop using it?" I glance at Faron. "Is that okay, or does she have to wean off of it?"

"With what I'm prescribing, that should be okay."

"Does that sound good, Flower?"

She hesitates then says, "Sure."

Faron rises. "Why don't I talk to the chef about those fry jacks? I'll tell the pharmacy to fill the prescription. Jerry can bring it to your room. Try to get some more fluids down if you can."

"I will," she says.

I gratefully shake Faron's hand and lock the door when he leaves. I hand Vanessa the bottle of water, and she drinks a quarter of it.

She sets it down and rises on her knees and straddles me. She laces her hands in my hair. "Thank you for saving me. I... I still can't believe it's real, and he's dead."

"He is. But don't thank me. I love you. It was hell without you. And I hate myself for not getting to you sooner and that you had to go through all that."

"Don't. I love you so much. The only reason I'm still here is because of you. Every day, when I saw the red hibiscuses, I knew I couldn't end it. I almost tried, and the first day you put them on the edge of the jungle, I knew it was you. When Carlos told me it was him, I... I thought you died, and I just... I couldn't..."