Can’t Win Me Back

Ever since Alyssa woke, she had hardly left Jasper's side, forsaking sleep and rest with no regard for her own health.

Three more days dragged by, though for her, it felt like months— years—decades.

The time that passed was agonizing.

This wasn't the first time Jasper had been hurt because of her.

She had been through the fear and panic before, when his life hung by a thread or when he lay in a deep coma.

Yet, this time was different.

For reasons she couldn't understand, the calm and rationality she once had had vanished.

She gripped his hand tightly, her fingers woven with his.

Fear surged through her like an avalanche, threatening to drown her from the inside.

This was a fear that she had never felt.

That intense helplessness tormented her mentally every second of the day.

In just one week, Alyssa, once proud and radiant, had withered like a pale white rose.

She was gaunt, fragile, and exhausted.

hospital gown looked so big on her emaciated frame that it

she spoke to Jasper

shared stories from when she was 11 Co 18, of their marriage, their divorce,

heart-stopping

were happy times, sad times, tears of

those memories, once too painful to

she remembered

no right

"Jasper...

there is some issue

I'm really scared.

you will forget me when you wake up." Alyssa picked up Jasper's calloused hand and interlaced her fingers with

kisses all over his fingertips, the back of his

was like a tender piece of meat, tempting

skin with kisses, leaving her trembling

affection

her fingers, her palms—just

loved her

way of showing his love, of

what to do with himself physically and

her turn to be vulnerable, her turn to taste the fear of

Indeed, God was just.