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

But why now?

only after 13

was too late now. How she wished he had never remembered.

Jasper asked, forcing her to meet

+15 BONUS

remember why I called myself Alice when we

heart. Of course he did.

because she refused to answer when he asked. He

Alice in Wonderland.

wildest dreams did Jasper imagine that a seemingly

their lives 13 years later. She had

secret for so long,

lightly. “There’s no need to, really. I never

passerby in your life, after all. Whether it was 13 years, three years,

Jasper’s breathing hitched.

in his complete forgetfulness of her or in his act of saving

stop the guilt

heart for 13 years, yet he

distance, unlike him, who only wanted to shut

really didn’t

still divorced

Though she had her regrets about him, she wasn’t holding

Alyssa or Alice, they’re nothing

to apologize, really. I

all those years ago, I never got a

properly thank you.”

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

just because I saved you once, and

past now. No point digging up

her eyes, as if closing a tender place in her heart

focus on getting to safety right now. I’m

truce between them as they waded through the