Page 208 of Sage Haven
And then another.
And I pushed the door open.
She was curled in the corner.
Not on the bed, just on the floor. Like she wanted to disappear into it.
Her arms wrapped tight around her legs.
Her head tucked down.
And the second the door clicked shut I watched as she flinched.
As if I’d struck her. As if she was bracing for it.
I nearly fell apart.
But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not now.
“It’s okay,” I said softly.
The words floated between us, brittle and raw.
I set the plate down.
And I knelt beside her.
Close enough that I could hear the hitch in her breath. See the sheen of tears she hadn’t let fall yet.
She didn’t look at me at first. Just a flicker of her gaze, peeking over her knees.
Cautious. Guarded. Hollow.
“Sage.” Her name was a plea on my tongue. “You need to eat.”
Her lips trembled. And when she spoke, it was a whisper, “I can’t.”
I reached out slowly. Brushed the hair from her face. My fingers were gentle but firm.
I needed her to feel this. To know she was still here.
“Sage… don’t make me beg.”
Her hands shook. Her breath came faster. I saw the panic tightening around her like a vice.
I didn’t think just pulled her into me. Held her tight. Anchored her against my chest.
“Breathe,” I whispered against her temple. Soft. Steady.
“I can’t,” she choked.
“Yes, you can,” I said, “With me, you can.”
She flinched at the sound of my voice. But she didn’t pull away. And I held on.
I wasn’t letting her slip.
“Please?” A beg now. “If you won’t do it for you… will you do it for me?”
