Briony listened to Irwin's sharp words, feeling nothing but numbness inside.
Maybe it was for the best. She wasn't Irwin's mother, after all. Maybe it was time to let things go back to how they should be.
She would step out of Stewart and Irwin's lives for good, and let everything return to its proper course.
Without another glance back, Briony turned and walked straight for the door.
"Briony "
A sudden fit of coughing cut through the silence.
Stewart's face changed instantly. "Irwin?"
Irwin was gasping for breath, clutching his chest as he began to collapse.
"Irwin!" Stewart scooped him into his arms, turning desperately to Briony. "He's having an asthma attack!"
Briony's hand froze on the doorknob.
"Mom... cough... Mom..." Even as Stewart held him, Irwin's pale face was contorted in pain. Despite everything, he instinctively reached out a trembling hand toward Briony, pleading, "Mom, I can't breathe... cough..."
Briony's grip on the doorknob tightened.
She squeezed her eyes shut, telling herself not to give in. Stewart was here—he'd make sure Irwin was alright...
"Where's Irwin's inhaler?!"
faltered, then
clutching the breathless boy, his eyes pleading
lost all its earlier defiance. Now, he just looked
chest. Releasing the door, she
after her, Irwin limp in his
top drawer by the
his breathing gradually steadied. Nestled in Briony's arms, he soon drifted
the bed
a word, nor
for Irwin with quiet tenderness, something soft flickering in his
a hand over Irwin's pale cheek, then
Stewart called after her.
look back, just headed downstairs
hurried
there. No way you'll get a
out the
and gray, snow swirling through
of his grasp. "Don't worry about me. If I managed to
started down the
want to see you," Stewart said
Briony stopped, halfway down.
looked up at him, standing at the
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