Can’t Win Me Back

Jasper steadied his breath the moment he pushed the door open to Alyssa's hospital ward.

For some reason, he was feeling really nervous.

There was almost nothing that could ever unnerve him.

Other than Newton, Alyssa was the only other person who could make him feel disquieted.

A strange serenity filled the room, broken only by the faint hum of the medical equipment.

Alyssa was still awake.

She was sitting upright against the headboard.

Her gaze was fixed on the darkness outside the window; her face turned to the side as if lost in thought.

The new moon cast no light; there were no stars.

She seemed to be staring at nothing, into the endless pitch black.

Jasper froze in the doorway, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the sight of her.

His breath hitched in his chest.

This woman, once so full of optimism and light, now appeared fragile, defeated.

Her spirit seemed so broken that it felt as if a single touch could shatter her completely.

It wasn't until a few moments later that Alyssa seemed to notice his presence.

Slowly, she turned her head.

met his—deep,

as she spoke, her body stiffening beneath the loose

and her muscles were tense,

forward, holding a thermal flask

was somber as he asked, "Are you feeling better?"

hand, in which a cannula

haven't died of hypothermia, thanks to your kind gesture." The image of Alyssa curling up pitifully into a ball in the

ball of fury

He couldn't hold back.

trying to end your life, hurting yourself over and over just because

whiter as if the blood had drained from

told you, I will keep the

Jasper spoke to her in a rather stern

a little pig-headed, possibly because

in a rush to find

mulling over what he

" Someone who's very important tome." 1 Alyssa's

she realized she

enough? She used to

seemed, anyone else could easily pull his attention away, making it all too easy for him to

the

it for you

anything foolish for you again." Her gaze dropped to her

destroyed, wishing for nothing but an escape from the

his eyes, it was all

opened the thermos flask and removed

he said, "That's good to know." Alyssa clenched her jaw, fighting back the