Perhaps a less selfish person would keep their distance. Perhaps they would step back to reveal the news for the sake of fairness. Why should she lure him into a false sense of security, curling up to him like a cat before sinking the claws of horrible news into him? But his concern was too tempting, his arms too inviting and Mabel gladly accepted, folding herself into him and burying her face in his chest.

Are you alright? he had asked, but her answer was far too complex for a mere ‘yes’. She just wanted to savor this moment a bit longer, remember the blissfulness on the beach that would lead to this cursed moment.

She took a deep breath as her heart continued to thud in her chest. This was the moment she would keep close to her in the future for when he looked at her with an expression of resentment for the life she’d trapped him in. Pulling away, she turned towards the couch, running the tips of her fingers across the edge. Best just get the news over with. “I’m unharmed,” That was as true an answer as she could give him. “I’m not sure if I’m alright….” Merlin, the words were like molasses seeping off her tongue. They wouldn’t come any faster. “but I’m not sure how long that will last. For me or for you…” The words wouldn’t come at all. The witch tried to get them out, to make them form into something coherent, but to no avail. So instead, she turned back to him and her hand rose from clutching her robes at her side to rest on her stomach.

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