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Her eyes are wide and glassy, like she is not even seeing me, like she is barely holding it together.

My heart punches hard against my ribs.

"Jesus, Melissa," I mutter, yanking her inside without a second thought.

She stumbles a little, water pooling at her feet.

"I am sorry," she stammers. "I do not even know why I came. I should not be here. I just..."

"Hey," I cut her off, my voice softer than I have ever heard it come out. "It is okay. You are okay."

She keeps apologizing under her breath as I guide her toward the back room.

Every step she takes leaves little wet footprints behind her, like a trail of all the weight she is carrying.

As soon as we step into the bedroom, memories slam into me.

The last time we were back here. Who would have thought my over confidence would lead to this.

I grab a clean towel off a shelf and step closer to her.

She shivers as I start drying her off, carefully.

The towel glides over her arms, her back, the soaked fabric of her shirt.

Up close, I can see it clearer.

The dark circles under her eyes.

The hollow, exhausted set of her mouth.

The way her hands tremble even as she tries to hold them still.

I drop the towel over her shoulders and frame her face with my hands, forcing her to look at me.

"What happened?" I ask, voice rough and low. "Did someone come back? Did someone hurt you?"

She shakes her head, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"No. No one came back," she whispers.

But the way she says it, the broken way the words leave her lips, makes me feel even worse.

"Then what is it, Mel?" I press gently, brushing the wet strands of hair from her face. "Talk to me. Please."

For a second, she just stands there, trembling, struggling for words.

Then she crumbles, pressing her forehead against my chest like she cannot hold herself up anymore.

"It's Tyler," she chokes out. "He got sick again. Really sick."

I freeze, the words hitting harder than any punch ever could.

"He is in the hospital," she continues, sobs breaking free now. "His lungs got infected. They have him sedated. He is back on a breathing machine."

My knees damn near buckle.I pull her tighter against me, wrapping my arms around her small frame.

I wasn't there.

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