Chapter 32

"But even if I wasn't able to help you, rescuing that man, wouldn't that be worth the risk?"

In my head, it is perfectly simple. I can't live with the fact that I could have saved a person and didn't. Why can't he get it?

"Nothing is worth you," he says with pain, squeezing my hands tightly.

"Caleb..." I sigh, "Please understand."

"I understand perfectly," he says angrily, his voice dangerously low, "and I'm not letting you blow your life away for a lost cause."

"You don't believe I can do it?" my voice is sharp, shrill.

He pauses, drawing a little picture in the dirt with his foot.

"Berenice, it's not like I think you can't, but it does seem rather-"

"I get it, Caleb. You don't want me to do it. You don't believe I can," my voice is low, defeated.

I start walking towards the door, desperately trying to veil the determination bursting within.

"No, it's not that! It's just that there is a big chance you will die," he yells after me.