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told me she was going to take a bath and then lay down for a while. I took a quick shower to warm up
and changed into some dry clothes. I went downstairs to talk to Claire and Denny.
I hope you weren t too hard on her, Connor, Denny said.
I can t even explain how I felt when I saw her laying in the middle of Central Park in the pouring
rain. I wasn t hard on her at all. She just wanted to be alone for a while, I said as I sat down at the
table for dinner.
Denny left to go home for the night, and Claire was cleaning the kitchen when my cell phone rang,
and a familiar number appeared.
Hello, Connor Black here.
Connor, Peyton here, she laughed.
Hey, Peyton, what s up? I asked as I rolled my eyes.
I don t want you to worry, but I haven t been able to get a hold of Ellery for two days. Do you
know anything?
Ellery started her chemotherapy treatment yesterday morning, and she s staying with me.
WHAT?! she screamed into the phone. She didn t tell me anything about starting her chemo
treatments so soon. Why the fuck didn t you tell me, and are the two of you back together or
something?
I m helping Ellery out as a friend. She doesn t have anyone else, I said.
Excuse me, Connor, but I didn t know Ellery was starting her treatment yesterday. I never would
have left if I d known.
I m sorry she didn t tell you, but she probably didn t want to ruin your vacation with Henry.
Well, sit tight, Connor Black, because I m coming straight from the airport and kicking your ass.
You should have called me and told me. Put her on the phone so I can speak to her.
Peyton, she s sleeping right now, and I don t want to wake her up. She needs her rest.
Fine, tell her to call me tomorrow. I was supposed to be coming back tonight, but my flight was
cancelled, so I ll be there tomorrow afternoon.
I ll see you tomorrow, Peyton. Have a safe flight, I said.
I hung up the phone and heard noises coming from upstairs. I stepped out of my office and stood
next to the staircase as I thought I was hearing things. It sounded like whimpering. At that moment, I
realized it was Ellery. I ran up the stairs, skipping one step in between, and as I reached the top, I
saw Ellery lying on the floor, curled up in a ball, and shaking.
Ellery, my god, what s wrong? I said as I knelt down beside her.
Don t touch me; it hurts, she cried as she put her hand up to me.
I didn t know what to do. Seeing her lying there like that, crying and in so much pain, was killing
me. I felt helpless. I yelled for Claire and told her to call the nurse to get her over here immediately.
Ellery then told me to pick her up and get it over with. I asked her if she was sure, and she nodded her
head. I was so afraid to touch her; I didn t want to hurt her. I stood up and bent over, picking her up
slowly from the floor. I flinched as she screamed when I picked her up. I carried her back to the
bedroom and gently laid her down.
The nurse will be here soon; she ll help you, I said as I gently brushed the hair away from her
face.
She looked at me and cried. I m so sorry, Connor. I never wanted you to see me like this.
At that moment, when she said those words, it finally hit me why she didn t tell me about her
illness, and why she s been so angry towards me. She knew what was going to happen, and she didn t
want me seeing her like this. She was trying to protect me and spare me the pain of having to go
through it with her. I knelt down beside the bed and lightly touched her hand.
You have nothing to be sorry for; I m the one who s sorry. It kills me to see you in such pain, I
said as a single tear fell down my cheek. She reached up and wiped my tear with her thumb. I lightly
took a hold of her wrist and looked at my name that was inked on it. I was just about to ask her about
it when the nurse came in. She gave her a shot of morphine and asked me if she could talk to me in the
hallway. After a brief conversation, I walked back into the bedroom and over to the other side of the
bed. I sat up with my back against the headboard and looked at Ellery as she turned on her side to
face me.
Has the shot helped? I asked her as I stroked her beautiful, blonde hair.
See gave me a half smile and said it was helping. It isn t always going to be like this, she said.
The first three days after chemo is the worst, and then I m usually fortunate enough to have a few
days where I feel good; well, as good as can be expected on chemo. I didn t say a word. I just sat
there playing with the strands of her hair, thinking about how stupid I was leaving her in that hotel
room in Michigan.
Don t get to use to doing that, she said. It s going to be gone soon.
I don t care. You ll still be just a beautiful, I smiled.
I know that made her feel good because she smiled at me, and I kissed her on the forehead. Even
being in so much pain, her smile could still light up the room and arouse me. Damn that smile. I took a
hold of her wrists and held them in front of me, rubbing the tattoos with my thumbs.
I noticed these at the hospital when you were receiving chemo. I ve been waiting for you to show
me; why, Ellery? I asked.
She looked down and slowly got out of bed. She walked over and stood in front of the window.
Because at some point, you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart, but not in your
life, and this is my way of keeping you in my heart.
The tone of her voice was sad when she said that. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking in those
words she just spoke. Even after everything I did to her, she still loved me and wanted to keep me
close to her, and the only way she knew how was with those tattoos. I felt like the biggest bastard on
earth. I got up and walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her into me
from behind.
Get back in bed, and I ll bring you some tea, I whispered in her ear.
She turned herself around in my arms and kissed me on the cheek. I took in a sharp breath as it was
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