Wren stared blankly at the sterile white ceiling, her mind a tangle of fear, confusion, and disbelief. The beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room, each rhythmic pulse a reminder of the life she had nearly thrown away. Her body felt heavy, her arm a dull throb beneath the bandages. As the fog of unconsciousness faded, a more immediate, gnawing worry took hold: what had she done, and why?

Connor’s voice broke the silence, soft but edged with urgency. “When we left Sarah’s house, what did she whisper to you?”

Wren hesitated, the memory sharp and cruel. “She said… she said she left one of my pictures with her friend.”

Connor’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“She said that her friend would send the picture out to everyone at school today.” Wren’s voice trembled, the humiliation still raw.

Connor’s eyes narrowed as he quickly reached for his phone, his fingers flying over the screen as he messaged Riley. The seconds felt like hours, each one stretching with the weight of the unknown. Finally, his phone buzzed, and he let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

“Riley says there’s no picture. No news. It was a lie.”

Wren’s breath hitched. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Connor confirmed, his voice firm. “There’s nothing.”

A wave of conflicting emotions crashed over Wren—relief, anger, confusion. “Why would she lie?”

Connor shook his head, his expression darkening. “Probably just to be spiteful because of Trevor.”

At the mention of his name, Wren flinched, her eyes flashing with anger. “Don’t mention that jerk’s name.”

“Alright, I won’t,” Connor said quickly, sensing the depth of her pain. “But I think Sarah just wanted to mess with you, to hurt you.”

“I can’t believe it was a lie,” Wren whispered, the reality of what she had done sinking in deeper with each passing second.

Connor’s gaze drifted to her bandaged arm, his voice tinged with frustration. “You did all this for nothing.”

Wren looked down at the wound she had inflicted on herself. The truth was hard to swallow, but she knew Connor was right. Yet, something deeper, darker, had driven her to this point, and it wasn’t just Sarah’s cruel words.

“I think it would have happened eventually,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. “I really struggle with thoughts of… not living.”

Connor’s expression softened, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and determination. “You have lots of reasons to live, Wren. And the biggest one is me.”

The sincerity in his words took her by surprise, and for a fleeting moment, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. It was nice to feel needed, to know that someone cared so deeply for her.

“If you say so,” she murmured.

“I do say so,” Connor replied, his tone resolute. “Once we leave here, we’re going to follow the doctor’s advice. We’ll get you the help you need—medication, therapy, whatever it takes.”

Wren nodded slowly, though the idea of facing her demons head-on was daunting. She knew she needed help, but accepting it was another matter entirely.

Connor paused, seeming to wrestle with something in his mind. Finally, he spoke, his voice trembling slightly. “You’re going to live with me. Permanently.”

Wren’s eyes widened in shock. “What?!”

“You heard me,” Connor said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “No ifs, ands, or buts. You’ll be with me always.”

Wren started to protest, but the look in Connor’s eyes stopped her. There was fear there, and something else—an unyielding resolve born out of love and desperation.

“That’s not necessary,” she began, but Connor cut her off.

“Yes, it is,” he insisted, his voice breaking with emotion. “Sunshine, you scared me so much today. I can’t take the chance of losing you again.”

The weight of his words pressed down on Wren, and she realized, with startling clarity, just how deeply she had hurt him. A pang of guilt twisted in her chest. She couldn’t do this to him again—this kind, loving man who had stood by her side through everything.

A thought surfaced, unbidden but undeniable. I can’t hurt him again. He loves me too much… and I love him too. I can’t bear to see him this sad.

“Alright,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’ll stay with you. Always.”

The relief that washed over Connor was palpable. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, his touch warm and reassuring. “Thank you,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “Thank you, Wren.”

As they sat together in the quiet room, the weight of the day’s events hanging between them, Wren felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time: hope. It was fragile, like a flickering candle in a storm, but it was there. And for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.

Connor squeezed her hand, a silent promise that they would face whatever came next together. And in that moment, Wren knew that, no matter how dark the road ahead might be, she wouldn’t have to walk it alone.