Regret Came Too Late

Outside, the snow kept falling. In the distance, the landscape was nothing but rubble, and beyond that, an endless stretch of bleak gray sky.

Ethan's fingers stayed locked with hers; the heat of his skin was a smoldering presence she couldn't ignore.

Grace didn't have it in her to be cruel-not when he asked so quietly to just be allowed this.

The minutes dragged painfully, and his fever only worsened.

Eventually, she couldn't sit still any longer. She reached for the bottle of water, ready to coax him into drinking again.

His eyes fluttered open-glazed, foggy, as if he wasn't sure where he was.

"Mr. Bennett's gone, Mr. Henderson. Let's head back first. Even if there's no medicine, lying down will be better than staying here," she reasoned.

Instead of responding, Ethan slowly dragged his tie, his movements sluggish from the fever.

Grace quickly pressed her hand against his chest to stop him and re-fastened the tie.

Normally, he was all sharp lines and strict precision, never leaving a button undone.

Grace lowered her eyes, fingers deftly tying the knot. She decided she wouldn't wait for Tim anymore-she would get Ethan back herself.

Just then, Ethan's scalding hand closed over hers.

"We're not going back," he rasped, his voice wrecked by the fever. "There are magnolias nearby... did you know?"

Grace had no clue where they were, only realizing more and more that he was completely out of it.

to see them, I'll go pick some for you,"

lit up instantly, hope flashing through the fevered

"What?" he said, surprised.

disbelief-seriously?

"Mr. Henderson..."

to gloss it over, but he suddenly

find it,"

at his side profile-his damp hair clung to his forehead; even the corners of

drew in a slow breath, pushed open the car door, and said, "I'll look. But if I

his eyes half-closed, he gave a faint, weary smile as he hummed a soft reply. The snow was falling fast now, blanketing everything

Grace took

but after a few paces, worry tugged

car and tapped lightly on

down. His face was still flushed with the fever, and

it-wander a bit and grab

just one look at him

like some feral, red-draped spirit-fragile, powerful,

he

pity for him.

response, she marched into

exist. However, after ten minutes of wading through

were magnolias. They burned bright against the ghostly white of the

blinked in disbelief before

reached out. The instant she brushed the delicate bloom,

two children clung

tremor. She instinctively glanced around, then moved toward a

feet, she spotted a