Page 147 of Morally Corrupt

After all she's done to me, I'm still the same besotted fool. And I can't imagine my life without her…

I own up to it. I fully admit it may not be the sanest decision, but it's the best one for me.

I just love her… I love her with her obsessive tendencies and her stubborn streak. I love her with her devotion and selflessness because I don't believe for a moment that she doesn'tfeellove for me. Not when she just put her life on the line to help fulfill my wish.

Who does that if not someone who loves deeply?

I watch over her for a few more hours, and when I see signs she's about to rouse, I take out some of the food I'd purchased before and make her something to eat.

"Adrian?" Her voice croaks as she slowly opens her eyes to look at me. I set the food on the night table next to her bed, and I crouch down next to her.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good… I think. Water?" I hand a bottle of water to her, helping her sit up so she doesn't choke on it.

"Thanks," she mumbles and proceeds to empty the entire bottle.

"Here. Eat this, and we'll talk." I give her a sandwich and watch as she zooms in on the food and dives in with a hearty appetite.

"Easy." I stroke her hair and give her a lazy smile, which she briefly returns before going back for more food.

"You… have no idea… how hungry… I was," she says between mouthfuls of food.

She quickly finishes everything I'd gotten her, and I'm happy to see she's regained some color in her cheeks.

"You did this?" She points towards her bandaged arm, and I nod.

"Those bastards… I was too tired at that point." She tries to excuse her injury as if that's the main issue at hand.

"B… I told you I didn't want you to go." I sit on the adjacent bed, ready to pour my heart out to her.

"I know." She lowers her eyes and actually looks ashamed. As if. "But I couldn't pass this up. I know how much this means to you…"

"And you mean more to me." Her expression freezes at my words as if she can't quite believe it.

"Are…" She quickly shakes her head. "Do you mean it?" Those words are imbued with so much hopefulness, my heart is about to burst.

I take her uninjured hand and squeeze.

"I do," I confirm.

"Still… you told me I disgusted you." Her voice is small as she repeats the words I'd flung at her in anger.

"I was angry… bitter. You lied to me about so many things…"

"How can you? How can you still care about me?" She shakes her head again in disbelief.

"I don't just care about you, B… I love you," I confess, and her eyes widen for a second before tears runs down her cheeks.

"B?" I ask, not knowing what's happening. She gives my hand a tug before lifting it and holding it to her cheek.

"I know you'll probably never be able to believe me, but I do love you. You're the only thing I've ever cared about in this life. I swear to you. I know what I did hurt you… I understand that, and I'm not looking for excuses where there are none. I knew fully well what I was doing."

"B…" I start, but she silences me.

"No, let me. I don't regret what I did… It's true, and it's messed up. Fuck, it's probably borderline insane. But I do regret one thing… and that is that I caused you pain. When you hurt, I hurt. I may not be normal, butyouare my one link to normal." She brings my hand to her lips for the ghost of a kiss. "You are my tether… and for you, I can try to be better."

I give her a warm smile. Yes, it's fucked up.Weare fucked up. But I find that I don't care… Not anymore. All my life, I've searched for some semblance of ordinary… I want to live the typical American life, have a house, a wife, children, and die of old age, retired somewhere in Montana.

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