Page 97 of Shattering

And again.

At some point, I realized your mam was in on it, too. The sandwiches started coming with little packets of crisps, a chocolate bar now and then. It wasn't much to you, but fuck, Cadi—it meant everything.

You never asked me why I needed it.

You just knew.

I think about that a lot.

Because that's who you are, Cadi.

You see people.

You see me.

And I'd be lost without you.

Maybe I should've been a rugby player. Maybe I should've taken a different road. But I followed you instead.

Turns out, the path you showed me suited me better.

Breaking and fixing bones is what I like to do.

And I'll never regret it.

You are my balance. The only steady thing in a world that never felt safe.

And I hope to God I never let you down again.

- Gray

Chapter 45

Cadi barely had time to knock before the door flew open.

"Oh my fucking GOD," Ana announced dramatically, arms thrown wide as if she were making a stage entrance. "Look who's here. The only person I actually give a shit about seeing."

Cadi grinned as Ana pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, smelling faintly of hospital antiseptic, strong coffee, and trouble. She looked like she had gone a couple of rounds with a tank. The tank had obviously won.

"You look alive," Cadi noted, pulling back slightly to study her. Ana looked the same as ever—long, black hair pushed back, glasses perched precariously on her head, piercing blue eyes full of mischief.

"Barely," Ana sniffed. "I spent a month and a half in the fucking hospital, which was like getting trapped in an episode of Casualty written by sadists." She flopped onto the couchdramatically. "They airlifted me to the nearest tertiary centre. A helicopter, Cadi. Like I'm some kind of VIP patient."

Cadi rolled her eyes. "You were a VIP patient."

Ana smirked. "Damn right I was. You should've seen me—strapped to a gurney, demanding someone let me tweet before I lost consciousness."

Cadi snorted. "And what exactly happened to you again?"

Ana waved a hand. "Ah, just a tiny incident involving a rebel stronghold, a poorly placed landmine, and my general lack of self-preservation."

Cadi's eyes narrowed. "Ana."

Ana sighed dramatically. "Fine. I got caught in crossfire during an op. I was covering an insurgency in God-Knows-Where and ended up catching a bullet in the leg." She scowled. "Not even a cool bullet wound. Just a dumb, painful, can't-walk-for-six-weeks bullet wound."

Cadi let out a breath. "Jesus, Ana."

Ana smirked. "What can I say? Some people collect stamps. I collect near-death experiences."

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