Beckley was on the couch with Fresca curled up against him , her hand feeding him fruit . She looked so happy , like she had won . " Claire ! " Beckley jumped up quickly , his face lighting up like he had been waiting for me . He held out a small gift box . " I got you something . If you take this ... it means you . agree to the deal . You'll let me stay with Fresca for a while so she can help you . Please , just say yes . " I stared at the box but didn't even raise my hand . My lips trembled , but I forced myself to speak calmly . " I don't need the gift . I'll say yes even without it . " His eyes widened . " You ... you really mean it ? " " Yes , " I said , my chest breaking with every word . Fresca jumped up right away and wrapped her arm around mine like we were best friend Her smile was too bright . " Then let's all get along , cousin . No jealousy , okay ? Beckley's just fulfilling my dream . He promised me this month , and then you'll get better ." I slowly pulled my arm away . " I won't be jealous . " Relieved , Beckley hurried into the kitchen and came back with a bowl of soup . He looked proud , smiling at me . " I made this for you . It's good for your blood . Please eat , Claire . " It smelled good . I wanted to believe him . I took one sip ... and my throat burned . " No ... " I gasped , clutching my chest . My skin turned cold and pale . " Shrimp ? You ... you put shrimp in this ? Beckley , I'm allergic . Don't you remember ? I told you- " He froze , panicked . " I thought ... I thought it was peanuts you couldn't eat ! " Fresca's voice cut in , " No , Beckley , you're mixing us up . I'm the one allergic to peanuts . Remember ? I told you last week . " My vision blurred . Black spots filled my eyes , and pain stabbed through my chest like a knife twisting deeper . He remembered her allergies . Not mine . The last thing I heard before everything went dark was Beckley's terrified voice shouting my name . When I woke again , he was sitting by my bed , his eyes red and swollen . His hand gripped mine tightly . " Claire , I'm so sorry . It was a mistake . Please believe me . I've canceled everything . For 8:54 Thu , Oct 16+ 20 " Claire , I'm so sorry . It was a mistake . Please believe me . I've canceled everything . For the next few days , it's only you . I swear to you , I won't ever let this happen again . Please , forgive me . " I turned my face away . My voice came out small but steady . " You don't need to apologize . You already belong to Fresca . Just remember her favorite things now . Just take care of her . And Beckley ... from now on , stay out of my life . For good . " " Claire , what are you even saying ? This thing with Fresca ... it's nothing real . It's only for a month . I'm just pretending to be her boyfriend so she'll finally help you . Don't twist it . You're the one I love . You're my wife . " He reached for my cheek , but I turned my head away , pulling the quilt higher over me . " I'm tired ," I whispered . " I need to rest . " His hand hung in the air for a second , then he let out a long breath . " Fine . Rest then ." The sound of the door closing felt heavier than any words he could have spoken . As soon as he left , I opened my eyes . Tears slipped down the side of my face , soaking into the pillow . knew I didn't have much time left . Aplastic anemia was slowly eating me alive . I forced myself up , every step aching , and dragged out an old dusty box hidden at the back of my closet . Inside were all the little things Beckley and I had collected . The faded movie tickets from our first date . The cheap bracelet he bought me at a night . market . Polaroids from our trips , my smile wide and his arms always around me . My chest tightened . I spent the whole night sorting through them , touching every piece like it was the last time . At dawn , I carried them to the backyard and lit a small brazier . One by one , I fed the memories to the fire . The flames were still rising when I heard a voice shriek . " What are you doing ?! " Before I could move , Fresca stormed over and shoved me hard . The brazier tipped , hot coals scattering , a few landing on my arm . Pain seared my skin and I gasped . " Fresca- " I stumbled back , clutching my arm . She didn't stop . She lunged at me , eyes blazing . " If you don't want me to live here , just say it to my face ! Why are you burning my things ? " My cousin's voice dripped with fake hurt , but I could see the satisfaction in her eyes . The noise drew Beckley out . He rushed forward , instantly pulling her behind him like she was the one who needed protecting . " What happened ? Are you hurt ? " 2/3 6.0 % 8:54 Thu , Oct 16 she was the one who needed protecting . " What happened ? Are you hurt ? " 列 Fresca clutched his shirt with trembling fingers , tears already brimming . " Beckley , Claire hates me so much she started burning my stuff ! Look at it ! She doesn't want me here . " Beckley's eyes landed on me , and for the first time in weeks , he looked straight at me- but it wasn't love I saw . It was disappointment . " Claire ... how could you ? After everything Fresca has done for you , after she agreed to help with your treatment ... this is how you treat her ? " My throat tightened until I could barely breathe . I bent down and picked a charred scrap from the ashes . It was a corner of a photo . I held it out to them , my hands shaking . " Look closely , " I said , my voice breaking . " These aren't Fresca's things . These are mine . Our memories . " The photo was from last winter . Beckley had been wrapping his scarf around me , my cheeks red from the cold , my eyes lit with happiness . For a second , his body went still . " Why ... why would you burn these ? " " Because they're rotten now . " Tears blurred my vision . I tossed the photo back into the fire . " I don't want to keep them anymore . " " No , Claire ! These are ours . You said once we'd look at them together when we got old . Why throw that away ? " I gave a small , broken smile . " Do you really not see it ? Beckley , I'm dy- " " Beckley ... my hand . I think I burned it when the brazier fell . " Fresca cut in . Immediately , his attention snapped back to her . He dropped my hand like it was nothing , fussing over hers instead . " Let's get you inside . I'll put ointment on it . " With his arm wrapped protectively around her , he walked her inside . He didn't even glance back . I stood there alone , shaking , the fire slowly dying . 8:55 Thu , Oct 16 " Chapter 3