Isabella’s POV

Ethan's room was dark and quiet, except for the sound of his heart monitor.

I sat quietly by his bedside, watching the rise and fall of his chest for a long time.

If it weren’t for the beeping of that monitor, or the bandages wrapped around his chest…If it weren’t the bruises on his arms and face, or the twisting tangle of guilt and anger in my chest…

If it weren’t for those things, I could almost convince myself he was just ...