Her words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air clean from my lungs. I stared at her, my mind scrambling, my instincts screaming to deny it, to protect her from this. How? How could she possibly know? I’d hidden the weakness, the tremors, the deep, aching fatigue that was slowly leaching my strength. I’d hidden it from everyone, especially from her.

My hands, which had been cupping her face so tenderly a moment ago, tightened almost imperceptibly. The gentle warmth in my chest ...