Chapter 14

HOPE

Nicco put me down and all I could think about was leaving before the doctor got here. I knew that my fear was irrational, but it is impossible to reason with someone in the grips of terror like I was. I needed to leave.

Nicco didn’t try to stop me, and I was grateful. My ankle hurt pretty bad, but after a few steps I could ignore most of the pain. I made it to the door and wrenched it open, heading into the hallway. Nicco still didn’t move. I turned to look back at him, sitting stoically on the couch with his arms folded.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and the tears began to fall. I shut the door behind me and moved down the hall as quickly as I could.

I turned the corner and thought I heard the door to the suite open, so I moved faster. I was an idiot for coming here. Relationships don’t work with me. I’m too damaged with too many monsters in my closet. My fear of doctors was a very small tip of the iceberg.

I found the doorway to the stairwell and I entered that, pulling