Chapter 2

Lauren hooks her arm through mine and kisses my cheek. “Of course we came to get you. We were worried sick.”

“Work stuff came up for me today, and Ethan's lab had some emergency. That's why you had to come alone. So sorry about that.”

Ethan talks to me, but his soft eyes are on Lauren. “Mia, what did the doctor say about your eyes?”

I clutch the report in my pocket and shove it down deeper.

“Same as always. Maybe in a few years, if I'm lucky.”

I catch it. The quick flash of relief in Ethan's eyes.

It slices through my chest.

He doesn't want me to get better.

Because if I stay blind, he can keep sneaking around with Lauren.

He reaches out and pets my hair. “Don't be scared, Mia. You still have us. Lauren and me. We're not going anywhere.”

“One day, one year, ten years—we're never leaving you.”

A year ago, I would've sobbed hearing those words.

But now? I can't believe he just kissed Lauren ten minutes ago and now he's feeding me promises like this.

Lauren suddenly wipes a tear off my face. “Mia, why are you crying?”

“Did someone mess with you while we weren't here? Tell me who. I'll rip them apart.”

Her panic is real. And it only makes it hurt more.

I shake my head. “I'm fine. Wind got in my eyes. Don't worry.”

She pulls off her jacket and wraps it around me. “It's freezing. Take mine. Let's go to the store.”

I grab her coat like a robot. I don't feel any warmth.

Ethan frowns. He takes off his own coat and slips it over Lauren's shoulders like it's second nature.

She lifts her arms without even thinking. Like they've done this a thousand times.

Because they have.

Three more days until Christmas.

They take me to the grocery store. They're planning a big holiday dinner. Our eighteenth Christmas together.

Lauren holds my arm, her voice bright.

“Hey, grab some extra mushrooms. You know Mia loves those.”

“Ethan, did you get the chicken? I'm making honey garlic chicken for her!”

Ethan smiles at her—that soft, private smile. “Already got it. She's my girlfriend. You think I don't know what she likes?”

My blood runs cold.

Because before Lauren even told him to get my stuff, his cart was already full of her favorite meats, her favorite drinks, her favorite snacks.

I'm not first anymore.

The guy I've loved for ten years? His whole heart belongs to someone else now.

They don't notice me. They keep planning the Christmas menu.

And then—

Boxes tumble from the top shelf.

I don't even have time to react. But Ethan does.

My hand shoots out for him on instinct.

But he's already moving. Grabbing Lauren. Pulling her out of the way.

“Lauren—watch out!” My hand grabs nothing.

The boxes slam into me. My head cracks against the corner of the shelf. Sharp pain. Then warm blood drips down my forehead, into my eyes.

Across the aisle, Ethan is frantically checking Lauren from head to toe.

“Are you okay? Did anything hit you? Are you hurt?”

Lauren's shaky. “I'm fine. You got me out just in time.”

They both forgot about me.

A store employee runs over and grabs my arm. “Oh my god, you're bleeding a lot. We need to get you to a hospital.”

Lauren and Ethan whip around. Then they rush to me.

“Mia—why didn't you move?!”

“Don't be scared. We're taking you to the hospital.”

I shake my head. “It's not that bad. Just take me to the pharmacy down the street. I don't want to go back to the hospital.”

I don't want them to know I can see.

So they take me to a little clinic. Stitch me up. Drive me home.

Now I'm not just blind.

I'm blind and scarred.What a joke.