Between Ice Blades

: A

was staring at the screen, and the next, I was rushing thro

called me met me

he aw

ess. She's stable, but she's tired, so ple

I see

he's been ask

wn the corridor,

nd smiled at me. Sometimes she looked straight through me, unable to remem

t it would feel like to k

e opened

ps dry. A dressing covered part of her upper body, and the mo

she s

le

sm

oment. I'd spent two weeks begging her to wake up

finall

ed faintly. "Yo

ped me, roug

y thing to say

to be hones

lly, avoiding the tape

d the life

sor

lf into the chair beside her. "Ju

ainst the pill

d immediately. "

lit

I call t

t moved to

settled before relaxi

o you

d." She studied me. "

teen

yes w

urt

odd

, A

rs, and the small ges

the matches, the weather and the terrible coffee downstairs. I'd talked about our house,

r and said nothing at all. I

d," I told her. "I coul

e still

had

d you m

ad

d. "What d

ate properly. My hea

ession t

't afford to lose focus like that. Wh

in her voice

later. Her fingers loosened around

don't want you throwing away

hand a gent

wo

oo

e caught herself, looked back

you mana

woken up after two weeks unconscious. I wasn't

was infinitely better than sitting

ed you,

sed yo

w me as I adjusted the chair, and she kept hold of my

ed the small po

thing I need

d at me. "

d with her belongings. Inside was her engagement

tared

O

you'd wan

e ring onto her finger, careful

nd slightly, look

beaut

are

and for a moment, n

e you,

ard and kisse

to

eyes briefly, resting he

eces," she murmured. "N

You don't have to reme

kno

re while yo

r eyes again.

romi

Lana and checked the monitor, then listened as she explained that Lana would

he nurse said, "but she'

d. "Of

reminded Lana not to overexert

a moment before her ga

r sh

down. "Wha

llar is

wer, she raised he

e he

hing I'd missed. Instead, she caught the edge of

g a crease out near the seam. Then she adjusted

he brushed an invisible speck from my chest

e said. "Mu

yed s

those movem

miling at me, her fingers still

ha