Chapter 14: Forty-Eight Days 🌶️

Cordelia was growing up.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹96684423› Fourteen now, five-three, and not a single thing about her had gone wrong — she'd only gotten more beautiful, more clean, more dangerous-looking in that delicate way.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §57defed7

Her lips were a deep pink, her skin pale and almost translucent, the kind of face you only got from being raised right, fed right, watched over every minute of every day.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (3174e55a) She'd cut her hair so it just brushed her collarbones — long enough to tie back, short enough not to be in the way.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #7f88db6b Her mother had insisted.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026 Easier to manage, she'd said.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * d0a61246 Won't distract from your schoolwork.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·d543fbf0·

The line of boys chasing her had stretched from her own school to schools across town.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #3e142f5d

Marguerite told her to stop smiling at them.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.d9e53233] The nicer Cordelia was, the more those boys thought they had a shot.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.e58bf111] So her mother taught her to put on the cold face — practiced it with her, actually, until Cordelia learned to scrub the warmth out of her voice.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.51535e6f]

Marguerite was anxious.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (8588661f) Cordelia would take the high school entrance exams next year, and her mother had one target only — the best high school in Beaufort.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 Marguerite smiled when she laid down the law.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··14710fe2 If you don't get in, she said, sweet as anything, you're going to wish you had.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:2b93bbc4

Cordelia wanted to roll her eyes.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·dc3debac Instead she said, very obediently, "Got it, Mom."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:68edbda8]

She went back to her room and started slicing up an eraser.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.60d20d5e After a while, she pulled out a fly strip she'd grabbed from the market, popped the bellies of the fat flies open with the point of her compass, then folded the strip on itself and crushed them in batches, a whole sticky mess of them.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-a2a8305d

When she was done she hid the evidence, went into the bathroom, washed her hands with hand soap, and sat back down in her chair to get herself off.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (7c49ac5a/Wed)

She pictured Hawke naked on top of her, breathing hard, sweating, gripping her waist as he hammered into her and came.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·666424fb The more she thought about it, the further away the actual climax got.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:a7806260

Maybe if she went into the bathroom and used a dildo on herself, pretended it was him — maybe that would help.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.77495551

She didn't want to deal with him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··8bda2431 She was sulking.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶1ab699ac Her patience with Hawke was almost gone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·fedde6b4

He'd forgotten he was supposed to be a dog.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:3c3afba6] She'd moved up to middle school, and not long after, he'd followed — he'd actually been studying like his life depended on it, and since he was older anyway, they'd let him skip a grade.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (c9f3cbd2/Wed) He'd ended up in the regular class right next to hers.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.03c9984a

At middle school, boys started chasing her openly.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §d5821eea She had no interest in any of them.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹0b04024f› But Hawke kept asking, completely out of nowhere — who was that, why were you talking to him, why did you smile at him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.ad959d51

Even when she organized a school event and walked next to a male class officer, just chatted for a couple of minutes, Hawke would dig into it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·37f6281d He hated it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹a8971b34› Made it obvious.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·47f7bf64 And every time something like that happened, he'd hurt her when they had sex — not bad, just enough that she felt it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.112e64b9

She thought he was honestly losing it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.3e85f407]

Oh, so because he didn't like it, she wasn't allowed to have a social life?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰04160444

Cordelia kept getting this feeling like he was threatening her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 0406e45f·· Like, because he'd fucked her, because they slept together, his head had gotten too big.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #f55a51a2 A dog that thought he had a say in who she spoke to during the day?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ b59e81e4

So whenever he started in with You did it again today, didn't you —, she'd shoot back, "Yeah, I did.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.dec7605a] Exactly what you think.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:071c75ec Happy?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·464a3689 She'd cut him down without flinching, push him away, freeze him out.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·e49256db

Their whole thing was underground anyway.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «d179cd40» The second she stopped reaching out, he had no way to reach her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰b3fa5e0a Because the one thing Cordelia would never, ever forgive him for was letting anyone know what they were.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «1567dfd3» He didn't dare even think about it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·082e5eb4

He knew the second he crossed that line, it was over.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026

And she didn't care about his stuff at all.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··ef05341b If there'd ever been a rumor about him and some other girl, that would've made it even easier for her to drop him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.c78a6786

Hawke had picked up the signals from a hundred small places.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⟨de780ff7⟩ Cordelia was getting tired of him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-44ca91dd

And that fear wasn't paranoid, either.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:edf9529c] On the forty-eighth day she'd ignored him, after a school break, she just... wasn't there anymore.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-8af8a4f5

News about Cordelia traveled fast.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * 66aeb60a She'd transferred.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.e9c1d480 Gone to the best middle school in Beaufort to prep for the entrance exams.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 771e641d·· She'd be back next year for the actual exam — her enrollment records were still here.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·54c2c549· That was the story.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©c186664d/May 27, 2026

Hawke felt like half his soul had been ripped out.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #33a5d1b1 He used to take any work he could find, hustling for cash; now he couldn't pick up a shovel.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.3744a049] He used to study hard enough to scrape into the middle of the class; now he dropped to the very bottom.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·9ad92f63

He hadn't talked to her in a long time.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.0725350e His head was a fog.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶7213c01c All he could see was the way she used to hold onto him and smile at him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-d36594dd

Sometimes he'd wake up and try to fold the dream back into reality, then snap to and realize — no.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — ad1268ce She was gone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.ecdccf77] She didn't want him anymore.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·a3630ad5

Not the temporary kind of not-wanting.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·1d770a86· The real, permanent, I'm cutting you off kind.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··d464c9bf If she'd wanted to leave him even a thread of hope, she would've told him first.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶c1bb0805

He kept turning it over.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.f58c9c1c] He kept looking for some other tether to the world.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.02dca0b4] But the second he tried, he realized — without Cordelia, there was no reason to keep existing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 2210f925

Everything around him squeezed in and went cold.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «3c32a0ad» He sank into anxiety and depression, dropped out, crawled back into the lean-to his dad had built when he was little.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — 262b84f8 He couldn't even bring himself to go to the yellow dirt house at the foot of the mountain, because Cordelia had been there too.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.7a0a07fd]

This was what it felt like to be cast off by the entire world.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-26c85515 He thought about going to find her a hundred times, but he was terrified that if he did, she'd never forgive him for it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.312c9298]

Because in Cordelia's mind, the day anyone outside found out that someone like him had touched her like that — her whole life was finished.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:39e925ee

He couldn't break out of the loop.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··77f9b034

Without her, he was lost and useless.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * 3402fe47 But if he just died here, he was scared she might come back one day and find him gone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #2f9e1b15

In that state, he'd cut his food and supplies down to bare survival.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:fdd0f0a8] The little nest egg he'd been saving — some stupid hope of marrying her one day — was almost gone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.28a2ac8b Like his heart.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:a7756199] Almost broken past the point of fixing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.da4a7847]

He didn't have any money.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #db835431 Not really.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:d1a37020

Outside, fireworks were popping nonstop.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.0595214a The few days before Christmas were always like that, loud from sunup.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:f7930fdd] But Hawke just lay there under a summer blanket, no reaction.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (1a8de1f7)

A faint light leaked into the lean-to.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.65dc67a4 Enough to tell it was daytime.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.e7cb66b8] Not enough to tell whether his eyes were open or closed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §254b18ac

Someone knocked outside.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.39450da0 Three knocks.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.e152baa6] A polite pause.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-a4ffe197 Then three more.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #478ff808

No answer.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.6e3a6de4 So whoever it was just shoved the heavy plank aside and walked in.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.b594078c

She had a hard time dragging the plank back into place — it didn't actually attach to the lean-to — to block out the wind.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.59baac7b Then she walked through with bags of groceries in her hand, scanning the place, and the line between her eyebrows didn't unknot once.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·4f9b63b5·

"Every place you live is worse than the last."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.d9876574 Cordelia had nowhere to set anything down, so she just put the bags on the ground.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (d1e1f2f1) It took her a while to find Hawke in there, on the cot, and when she first saw the gaunt shape of his back, she thought he was already a corpse.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶4cfd2849

Her stomach dropped.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:d37c6d5d Like that feeling when you miss a step going down the stairs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 227cfa1e··

She touched his back.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * da4a4abd He was freezing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:bbe15990] The missed-step feeling was still falling, still hadn't landed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©a6cf1472/May 27, 2026 She climbed onto the cot, opened her down coat, and wrapped it around him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰f0952192

Faintly, she could feel a heartbeat through his ribs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §988f0ac0

In the end, it was Hawke who caught her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (ab072b96)

"How did you let yourself get like this?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.af514616] Cordelia crawled onto his nasty, stinking cot.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.11074192 He hadn't washed in God knew how long.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [f0261ec7] The smell was unreal.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — galley 73a4edcf —

He didn't move.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #eeb40e71 She rolled him over, grabbed some food, transferred a bite into his mouth from hers, then some water.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.c42c7437 The water must've gone down wrong, because he choked and coughed and finally came to.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··bce29f9d

When he saw her, Hawke just blinked once, then turned his face away and curled in on himself.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹452c128c›

She gave him a minute.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * dc109c39 Then she sat down on the edge of the cot and said, "This is all you've got, huh?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.3d349a65 Sulking at home like a brat."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.0813a210]

"Other people's dogs, no matter where you dump them, they sniff out the way back.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.1be9de30] Not you.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.d57a1f5f I went a little ways, not even out of the country, and you nearly ran yourself into the ground."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.11a020b6

"You die and you're done.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (8dfade6e) But what about me?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶6bcdc5bd

Hawke turned his face back toward her with wet, blurry eyes.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (6b72b325/Wed) She'd had a whole speech queued up, all sharp edges, ready to fire — and just like that, every word dried up in her throat.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.796ab1d3

"Okay.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [40a848d4] It's been four months.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.77adf7ae Cut it out.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.0d003d94 Get up.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©dff3cea0/May 27, 2026 You wanna lie here and freeze to death?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.c68a6b4c Maybe you can take it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:c35f38b6] I can't."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [a3a6d02f]

She couldn't read what he was thinking from his face.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 300ef3ce He pulled on his rag of a jacket, picked up the ID and papers she'd dug out of the house, and trailed after her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··8173a2d7

Cordelia had a mask and a hat on.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.78fe48d0] After a few steps she turned, peeled off his absurdly noticeable jacket, took off her white down coat, and put it on him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 1908d0ac

Then she pulled her hat down over his face.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ fa0a6fc4·· There.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.9d7efee5 Less conspicuous.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §acccb58a

She was left in just a sweater and fleece-lined wide-leg pants.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.88790945 She had a great body, even like that.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — 176dac57 Hawke moved to give the coat back.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·863b0370 She wouldn't take it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·2d4ce4e6

"As long as you look like a person, that's enough.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:9e0cd971] Otherwise, walking behind me, everyone'll stare at me."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «56da76fa»

So Hawke just bundled himself tighter into her coat.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©52989f2f/May 27, 2026 By the time they got out to the road, she was freezing, hailing for a cab in the wind, her back trembling and her fingers gone red, and Hawke looked at her and realized — she really did care more about what strangers thought than anything else.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (c507b239)

Even though that was the exact thing that hurt her the most.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (18989cd3/Wed)

No cab came.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 9bf3087f·· Cordelia couldn't take it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 3e74c90a There were tears at the corners of her eyes from the cold.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 24a97ca9 She sniffed, ran over, yanked the down coat open, wrapped both arms around his waist, and pressed herself shaking against him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰e651b218

"Puppy — quick, quick, I'm freezing."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:a99f5d28

Hawke zipped the coat back up over both of them.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «c351fd35» He held her through her clothes, silently, dropping his face down against the top of her head.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (59bf6d59/Wed) He'd lost a lot of weight.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·df02b589 She was already slim.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 9f645543 The loose coat had room enough for both of them.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.79f342dd

"Do you know how to call a cab around here?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.89f6cba6 I want to — I want to ach — achoo — I want to find a motel."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:5b10b899]

"How'd you get here?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·66171d39

"Your neighbors.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·6606e0cb The old couple.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — galley e6ddae1d — They heard me asking the corner-store guy about Hawke, said they knew where you were, and brought me."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ cee7f570··

"They have a car.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.8897cc7c] Their son's back from working out of town."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··3bab8794 Hawke could hear the car start up next door at night.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.daeb5bea] Cordelia pinched him on the waist, but there was nothing left to pinch.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «d7da65a0» No outlet for her anger.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.5b8a5f02

"You didn't say!‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.39972eae Now I have to walk all the way back!"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-63f56cc3

She sneezed into Hawke's chest, almost like she wanted to crawl inside him, use his blood to warm herself up.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 77f12f93

Regretted it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #9df181f5

She regretted it, alright.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.d95ea593 It was so fucking cold.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶80bed6d2

With her eyes streaming from the wind, Cordelia thought — if Hawke wasn't around, who would sleep with her?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #e0ae7a39 Who would put up with her, treat her this well?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-af854f12

All men were dogs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··cb26a732 But he was different.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶27f9cfc2 He was hers.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.c1ce2d96 She'd raised him herself, from a stray.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰b0a69799 Even if he really was just a dog, you keep one this long, you're going to get attached.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.6cdceabc

A one-hour bus ride was all it took to get to her new school.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·6a612251 And here she was, running back across the country to find him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 7135a01b·· What was even going on in his head —

She started to feel some warmth coming back.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 8da97c25 Male body temperature really did run higher than female.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.6a8382c5]

Ugh.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.9f64eebe Fine.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [a91bd736] She'd brought this one on herself.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 14c64395··