Page 207 of Sage Haven

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I knew she needed them more than she needed me.

And still—it ripped me apart that I couldn’t be everything for her.

I watched them work.

Hands efficient, practiced.

I watched her flinch at every touch. Watched her fight to stay in her skin. Watched her slip away, inch by inch.

And I hated myself.

Because I had done this.

I had failed her. I had let this happen. And I wasn’t sure she’d ever forgive me for it.

Hell, I wasn’t sure I’d forgive myself.

We took her home. Back to the house. Back to the place she’d fought like hell to make her own again.

But it didn’t matter.

Because even though the house was too quiet, she was quieter.

She didn’t speak.

Not to me. Not to Sam or Castor. Not to the paramedics when they checked on her again the next morning.

She laid in bed, unmoving.

Her body curled toward the wall, her back to the world.

A hollow shell. Trapped. Gone.

Sam tried but Sage gave her nothing.

Not defiance. Not a fight. Just silence.

Castor hovered in the doorway. Said her name once. Offered to be there if she needed him and then never again.

I watched her fade.

Day by day.

And I knew.

Soon she would start hiding behind a mask again. Soon she would build her walls higher. And this time, I wasn’t sure I could tear them down.

Two days passed and I stood outside her door again. Like a fucking ghost.

A bowl in my hands. Soup.

Because I didn’t know what else to do.

A bitter laugh scraped out of me as I remember being in this exact same position not too long ago, begging her to eat.

“Some things never change,” I murmured to myself.

I took a breath.

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