Chapter 9

I looked away.

Suddenly, I noticed Ethan watching me from a short distance away.

I had no idea when he got here.

He was just calmly watching Andrew and Sophie kissing, his face giving nothing away.

Then he looked over at me.

For a moment, my vision blurred, I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

In Ethan's calm eyes, I caught a flash of excitement.

It was as if he was genuinely pleased that I'd finally seen it for myself.

I turned and walked out of the hospital.

At the edge of my vision, I saw Andrew suddenly shove Sophie away.

He snapped, his voice full of rage, "Are you out of your mind?"

But Sophie just threw herself at him again, clinging to him like her life depended on it.

"If you push me away one more time, I'll throw myself off the hospital roof.

"All these years, you can't even stand talking to her anymore.

"You're used to having me around now.

"If you go back to Riverdale, what am I supposed to do without you?"

Andrew fell completely silent, unable to bring himself to push her away again.

Sophie's sobs faded into the background, her voice growing distant.

"Professor Goodwin doesn't even respect your company, one word from him and you have to move out, no questions asked.

"Emma saw just two strange messages and didn't even give you a chance to explain yourself.

"She broke up with you like it meant nothing, just tossed you aside without a second thought.

"In their eyes, you're just a dog they can kick to the curb whenever they feel like it!"

I walked out of the hospital's inpatient building and headed outside.

The biting cold, mixed with wind and snow, slammed into me.

I couldn't help but shiver.

The wind made my head spin, and my stomach twisted in knots.

Nausea washed over me.

I couldn't tell if it was because of what just happened between Andrew and Sophie, or maybe just seeing them together like that.

Or maybe it was all the emotions I'd invested over the last five years.

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind.

As I stepped out of the hospital, the street was a river of cars.

Night had fallen, and the headlights stretched on forever, a never-ending line of light.

I walked out of the hospital gate, drifting toward the endless stream of cars.

Just then, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist.

Close to my ear, I heard Ethan's voice, trembling with worry.

"He's not worth it.

"Don't do this to yourself because of him."

I turned around and saw Ethan, his face pale and looking utterly helpless.

I just stood there, totally blank for a few seconds before it finally hit me what Ethan meant.

I shot him a look, disbelief all over my face. "You seriously think I'd go off the deep end because of this?"

Ethan's lips were pressed into a tight line.

His hand was still gripping my wrist, refusing to let go.

He said in a low, urgent voice, "If you take another step, you'll get hit by a car."