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.

eyes met

slightly as

muscles were tense,

stepped forward, holding a thermal

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

a cannula was inserted, tensed

of hypothermia, thanks to your kind gesture." The image of Alyssa curling up

inexplicable ball of

He couldn't hold back.

end your life, hurting yourself over and over just

as if

will keep the

Jasper spoke to her in a rather stern tone, perhaps out of that feeling of annoyance

little pig-headed, possibly because she was still

a rush to find someone." In

over

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

she realized she shouldn't

She used

making it all too easy for him to break his promises and

the thermal flask at the side of

"It's not worth it for you to

do anything foolish for you again." Her

destroyed, wishing for nothing but an escape

it was all just

flask and removed its inner

Alyssa clenched her jaw, fighting back the tears as she struggled to flash Jasper a bright