Page 97 of Molt

I stop in front of her. “I’m sorry.”

Her eyes lift. “For which lifetime?”

“All of them.”

The answer ruins us both.

She folds against me.

I hold her.

For several minutes, we stand in the dark surrounded by broken glass and the remains of every mistake we’ve ever made.

She cries into my chest.

I press my face into her hair. “I would never hurt you.”

She laughs bitterly. “You have.”

“I know.”

“You just showed me.”

“I know.”

“So don’t promise me that.”

I close my eyes.

She’s right.

“Then I’ll promise something else.”

“What?”

“If I become him again…”

She pulls back. “Him?”

“The version of me that locks you up. Controls you. Hurts you because he’s too afraid to lose you.” My throat tightens. “If I become him…”

“August.”

“Leave.”

“No.”

“Lenora.”

“No.”

“Promise me.”

“I said no.”

“You have to.”

“You don’t get to decide that for me.”