Page 103 of Teach Me to Fly

Lando’s already walking toward her, recklessly, because fear has torn through every ounce of caution, and I’m too torn up to stop him.

“You’re stronger than this!” he yells.

“No, I’m not!” Her voice sounds so raw it barely resembles her; it comes out like a wail instead of a shout. “I’m weak in here!” she screams, jabbing both fingers into her temples.

“I can’t cope with what I went through. I can’t cope with the fact that my mom doesn’t care, and that everything else in the world matters more than me in her eyes.” She’s sobbing harder now, shoulders shaking violently, and I’m so scared she’ll fall over the edge without even meaning to.

She gasps out the next words like they’re choking her. “Ican’t cope with the fact that just existing puts Reign in danger.”

My heart… my fucking heart splinters in my chest, because I’ve known she was hurting. I’ve seen it and I’ve held her through it. But this? This depth? This darkness that’s convinced her she’s not just broken, but dangerous to love? That, I didn’t know.

Lando doesn’t back down though. His voice cracks, but his eyes stay locked on hers.

“Wanting love from the people who are supposed to give it freely doesn’t make you weak!” He lets out a wild, bitter laugh and throws his hands up. “If you’re going to trust anyone on that, trust me! My own fucking father doesn’t love me, my mom left me, and my brother only started talking to me again because of you!”

I turn to him, guilt punching straight through me.

His gaze cuts to mine. “Don’t even try to deny it,” he growls.

And fuck, he’s right. I don’t have the energy to argue because he’s absolutely right. I’ve spent years shutting Lando out, and I let my silence mean something it never should’ve. I made him feel invisible in the one place he should’ve always felt safe. My throat works around words I don’t know how to say. Sorry doesn’t feel like enough. Nothing does.

Lando looks back at her now, everything in him softening except his voice. “You are the only constant in my life, Angelique.”

He takes a slow step forward, rain dripping from his lashes, voice trembling now. “Please don’t do this.” He keeps going until he’s reached the ledge, holding his hand out for her to take. “Please,” he whispers. “Please don’t abandon me too. Not you.”

The rain’s falling harder now, soaking all three of us but I can’t move. I can’t speak. My heart is in my throat, suffocating me, while I pray she reaches back. She doesn’t move for what feels like hours but then she suddenly looks straight at me.

“Please, Angel…” I whisper. “Baby, please.”

I hold my breath as she stares at me like I’m her final tether, and when she finally takes Lando’s hand I let out a strangled breath, sitting back on my heels, watching while Lando grips her tight and eases her down.

The second her feet hit the ground, he pulls her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her like he’ll never let go again, and she buries her face in his shoulder and sobs. I lower my head, gasping, hands gripping my own thighs, the relief so big it rips me apart. Because we were one second away from losing her.

One second.

The cold wind whips around us as the rain lets up, but all I hear is the echo of her voice saying she’s weak… that we’d be better off without her. I stand up, moving slowly, and take one step at a time until I’m right beside them. Lando glances at me over her head and nods, his eyes red-rimmed and soaked with tears. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him cry like this.

“Come here,” I whisper.

Angelique lifts her head, her curls tangled and wet, face blotchy, but her eyes find mine like they always do. She hesitates, fingers still clinging to Lando’s jacket. Then, finally, she lets go and stumbles into me and I catch her instantly.

My arms wrap around her tighter than I mean to. I’m scared if I let go, she’ll vanish, like this is still a nightmare Ihaven’t woken up from. She sinks into my chest, and I kiss her temple, holding her like my life depends on it.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, barely audible.

“Don’t,” I murmur. “Don’t apologize for hurting.”

She shakes her head, crying harder now. “I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

“Then you don’t know me at all,” I whisper, pulling back enough to look at her. “Because I’d rather see you broken than buried.”

Her lips tremble, and her eyes spill over again. I brush her cheeks with both thumbs, wiping the tears away, though they keep coming. That’s fine. I’ll wipe away every single one for as long as it takes.

“You want to die,” I say quietly, “but I need you to live.”

She closes her eyes.

“I need you to wake up next to me and fight with me. To rehearse with me and to fucking laugh again. And I know that’s a tall fucking order right now, Angel… but I’m not going anywhere.”

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