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And this ht am, we sat in a private room in the UCI Medical Center while a nurse went down a checklist and pricked Eet some quick blood work done Emilia didn’t sayIV stand next to it and she had that salowed for--as it, weeks? Months? She hardly seemed like the sa a shadow of herself

She reached down and gripped my hand "You didn’t have to come, you know…but thanks"

I didn’t have to come? What the fuck was that? I frowned "So you wanted to do this alone, too?"

She gave a light shrug "I’m sorry I didn’t mean it that way"

"But you did specifically ask me and yourin today Was there a reason for that?"

She took a deep breath and let it go "This isn’t easy…"

"Asking for help? Yeah…I’ri my eyes

"Have you considered that it’sto help you? To feel that in so utterly helpless and shut out?"

Emilia blinked and frowned, as if the idea hadn’t even crossed her hed "This is one of those things that can’t continue on between us like it has in the past Like when Iyou I can misinterpret your intentions just as easily as you didfor help--so you’re saying that you don’t need me Or you don’t want to need aze, her brows pinched together, that tiny valley appearing in her forehead between theh as if it hurt her to ad my hand behind my ear, I said, "What was that?"

I sue out at h, Mia…let us be here for you? Please?"

We stared at each other for a long, silent"I will I’ll try my hardest"