Vow

Maverick tries to reach up to touch me back, his eyes distant but happy, as if he is moving in a fog. My tears run unchecked down my cheeks as I try like hell to calm myself. There is so much happening all at once. In my mind and around me, I feel overwhelmed, completely lost in what to do with all of it.

“I need you to keep him from moving.” The healer tells me, touching my shoulder gently. “We have to get his arm bandaged before infection sets in and he loses it.”

I lower my head, pressing my cheek to his as he turns into me, a satisfied hum on his lips.

“Mav, stay still. You have to stay still, otherwise it will hurt,” I whisper in his ear.

“I want to touch you,” he says back, his words sounding slurred as he tries to turn toward me.

“No, no,” I rush out, splaying my hand over his chest to still him. My stomach boils when I touch his open wound, but I keep my eyes closed, my face pressed to his as I breathe through it. “You need to heal. “

“I don’t want to.” He mutters, and I sigh