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.

on her emaciated frame that it looked like it

night, she

shared stories from when she was 11 Co 18,

every heart-stopping moment

sad times, tears

once too painful to

she remembered him,

right to ask for

"Jasper...

is some issue with your

I'm really scared.

that you will forget me when you wake up." Alyssa picked up

over his fingertips, the back of his hand, and

often said she was like a tender

would shower her skin with kisses, leaving her trembling in

affection was more

her fingers, her

loved her

constant kisses were simply his way of showing his love, of not knowing how to express it any

what to do with himself

her turn to be vulnerable, her turn to taste the

Indeed, God was just.