“I’ll count the very seconds until I see you again.”

“I could feel the blood draining from my face again as I saw him standing there. He was a hallucination. I had gone insane! “That’s very thoughtful of you,” the nurse responded to David’s comment.“You see him too?” I sat agape.”

“I’ll not tire until I’ve claimed your heart,” he whispered into my hair. “And that is both a promise and a threat.” I could feel his warm breath against my cheek as he spoke.”

“My heart will not beat again until my sight rests upon your emerald eyes,” he whispered into my ear.”

“I gasped as he tightened his embrace around me.“I’m afraid I’ll never have the opportunity to hold you like this again.” His voice was soft and vulnerable. “You don’t have to let me go . . . ever." David shook his head in denial. “My mind refuses your words, yet my vacant chest welcomes them,” he argued, his face buried in my neck.”

“When we got to class, Andy reached in to my tote and set the rose on my desk. I didn’t understand why she had pulled it out. I had been very careful in making sure it wouldn’t get crushed. It wasn’t until I saw Jean tighten her brows when Andy said in a really loud voice, “David, that rose you gave Isis is beautiful,” that I understood Andy’s reason for putting the flower on display.”

“I’ll bring you a special tea . . . to soothe your nerves, my dear. Is that fine?” Nyx spoke softly to Andy. Andy nodded, “Yes, thank you.” Galen handed Andy a box of tissues. “I think she needs something stronger; vodka, perhaps?”