CHAPTER 36

I sat on the kitchen counter, my fingers wrapped tightly around a warm ceramic mug filled with bitter coffee. The aroma filled my nostrils, but it did nothing to soothe the storm inside me. The kitchen was unusually quiet, save for the ticking clock on the wall and the occasional sound of the wind rustling against the window panes. Elizabeth had left about an hour ago, heading off to class. She’d hugged me tightly before leaving and promised to come again over the weekend—with more class notes in hand. She’d even insisted that I not worry about being left behind. I appreciated her, deeply, but I couldn’t help feeling like a burden.

The longer Heinrich stayed unconscious, the more helpless I felt. The weight of everything—his condition, school, my isolation—threatened to drag me under. I hoped he’d wake up soon. I needed him to.