---- Chapter 11 I looked at Dennis. "All of this," I said quietly, "I got through it on my own. That's how I grew up. Three years ago, I had just graduated. I was just a girl, clueless about everything. "When I first started working, nothing felt right. Every day, I watched hundreds, sometimes thousands, die right in front of me. And still, I had to keep myself together, keep saving who I could. I broke down and cried every night, but I kept telling myself-just make it three years. Hold on three years, and I can go home." "But when I finally did go back, I saw you with someone else. And you told the housekeeper not to let me come back." He stood there, stunned. There was a flicker of something in his eyes-shock, maybe. ---- "T... [was wrong," he said. "Back then, I kept telling myself we couldn't work out. You were so much younger than me. I forced myself to be with someone else. But once I was, I realized it-" his voice caught, ''-I was in love with you. I couldn't stop it. No matter how hard I tried. Anna, come home with me. Don't stay here. It's too dangerous. " I let out a cold laugh. "Dangerous? Now you care? Dennis, the biggest mistake I ever made was falling in love with you. But it's fine now. I don't love you anymore. There's someone better by my side. We're married." "What?" His face went pale. "You can't be serious. There's no way you could fall in love here-you're lying." "He's my comrade. And he's the guy I love," I said. ''He gives me strength. Even in a place like this, he gives me peace. Dennis, go. I don't love you anymore." ---- His eyes turned red, and he shook his head over and over. "No... no, that's not possible..." I turned and walked away. Every second here mattered. I wasn't going to waste another one on him. The next day, I met up with Leon. We were being transferred to a new location. There were dark smudges on his face. I smiled and gently wiped them off. "You look like a soot- covered kitten." Just as I said that, Dennis emerged from a tent nearby, grief written all over his face. "Anna," he said, "you used to love me so much." Leon knew who he was. Without a word, he pulled me close. ''Dennis," he said evenly, "Anna is my wife."