More Precious Than Life

"I'm fine, I just accidentally knocked over a vase." Ava bent down and started picking up the shattered porcelain pieces.

"Let me do it. Don't touch it, you might cut your hand." Liam quickly stepped into the bathroom, pulled her aside, placed his phone on the sink counter, and bent down to clean up the fragments.

He even forgot to hang up the phone.

Ava found a trash can and handed it to him, reminding him, "Be careful."

"My skin is thick and rough, it won't cut." Liam picked up a few larger pieces and tossed them into the trash.

"Nonsense, there's no such thing as unbreakable skin." Ava also crouched down, wanting to help pick up the pieces.

Liam stopped her, refusing to let her touch them. "Those two years, I had a terrible temper and often smashed things. You always cleaned up silently. It must have been annoying, right?"

Recalling those two painful years, Ava felt a lump in her throat, and tears almost welled up.