Chapter Fifty Eight.

Ariana's POV —

As soon as I hand him the glass of water and his fingers brush up against mine, goosebumps explode across my skin. The voice of survival inside my head tells me to ignore it, blame it on the wind coming from the open window. I close my eyes, unable to look into those beautiful brown ones that I think of daily.

"Why is this so hard?" I whisper, feeling my throat tighten up with emotion. I open my eyes to find Alex watching me intensely, dark eyes focused on mine.

"Me. Blame it on me." Alex responds quietly, his head suddenly hanging low. I've never seen him look so crushed, his spirit broken. The light that once burst from every fibre of his body has disappeared, leaving an empty shell of a human. This isn't the Alex I know or dream of . . .

I know I've been battling my own nightmares but seeing someone I love battle his own makes me want to protect him with everything I have. The question pops into my thoughts that makes me re-think my actions —