Can’t Win Me Back

It was as though Jasper was adrift in a pool of pure astonishment, and the fact that the ledge beneath

them was falling apart only enhanced this surreal feeling.

“Hurry, Alice!” he cried, resurrecting a name that had been dormant in his mind for years.

Alyssa jolted in shock. The call of that name seemed to give her a boost of adrenaline. She was able to

push herself up on the ledge at the last second, right into Jasper’s arms.

He held her close in his arms, keeping her safe.

A thunderous boom echoed through the air.

Just as the rocky ledge disintegrated and tumbled down the mountainside, Jasper deftly rolled aside,

narrowly escaping the peril.

“Fuck!” he hissed in pain when his back collided with a boulder. The intensity of the pain led to an

immediate outbreak of sweat on his skin.

“Are you hurt?” Alyssa asked worriedly, noticing how pale he was.

Jasper shook his head, his voice steady as he reassured, “I’m okay.”

Alyssa heaved a sigh of relief, falling back against his chest. By now, both were thoroughly drenched and

shivering from the cold.

“Why… Why didn’t you tell me?” Jasper asked hoarsely, gazing at her.

“What?” Alyssa avoided his gaze.

“Why didn’t you tell me that we met 13 years ago? Why didn’t you tell me you were the girl I saved all

those years ago?” Jasper asked, pain and anguish flooding his chest.

throat clamped in on

her Alice because of that? Because he suddenly remembered?

But why now?

only after 13 years?

too late now. How she wished

me, Alyssa!” Jasper asked, forcing

+15 BONUS

myself Alice when

heart. Of course he did.

nickname because she refused to answer when he asked. He named her “Alice”,

Alice in Wonderland.

that a seemingly trivial and long-forgotten memory would

lives 13 years later. She

it secret for so long,

do.” Alyssa smiled lightly. “There’s no need to,

your life, after all. Whether it was 13

Jasper’s breathing hitched.

nothing amiss in his complete forgetfulness of her or in

he couldn’t stop

for 13 years, yet he had forgotten her.

only wanted to

… really didn’t

have still divorced me, no?”

widened. Though she had her regrets about

they’re nothing more than just names.

don’t need to apologize, really. I should be the one

ago, I never got a chance to know your name or who

properly thank you.”

Jasper wanted to know the answer to this. It had tortured

end. “Is it just because I saved you once, and you

Jasper. It’s all in the past now.

a tender place in

to focus on getting to safety right now.

an unspoken truce between them as they waded through the thunderstorm.