Page 314 of Rush

Keep it together.

Alex thanks his mom, the Academy. His team. And his co-stars.

He doesn’t mention me.

Thank God.

Then, he turns and reaches for my hand.

Not staged. Not scripted.

“Alex?”

I try to pull away, but it’s half-hearted—like my limbs aren’t entirely mine.

“Let me go.”

Alex’s grip tightens around my wrist. His touch presses at the wounds he left behind.

“Never again,” he vows, his blue-gray eyes boring into mine—desperate, hopeful even—and the memories of us together come rushing back.

My stomach drops as he pulls me offstage. In the front row, eyes widen—one actress presses a hand to her mouth. What could possibly be so urgent that he would do this in front of all these people?

But my feet move anyway—surrendering to my fate as I let him drag me into the darkness.

Fuck.