"This isn''t the time to be pointing fingers," Ss said, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. "You can''t just fall apart like this. If you really want to look after her, then you need to have your own life together."


    “She''s still alive—and as long as she''s alive, there''s always a chance she''ll wake up."


    "No matter when that happens, she''ll need you. She''ll need everything you can give her, isn''t that right?"


    "If you let yourself go to ruin, and she wakes up to nothing-do you really think that would make her happy?"


    "Put yourself together. The stronger you stand, the more hope there is that she''ll open her eyes. Besides, taking care of her doesn''t mean you have to neglect the rest of your life. The two aren''t mutually exclusive." Ss nced at Uriah. "Mavis loves you, Uriah. I doubt she''d want to see you waste away like this. And your family wouldn''t stand for it either."


    “I know. I just haven''t had it in me to care about anything,” Uriah murmured, eyes cast downward. He let out a heavy sigh. "But you''re right."


    "I need to be stronger for Mavis, for myself, for my family. I owe all of you that."


    "I doubt she''d want to see me broken like this."


    "Maybe if she sees me standing tall again, maybe that will be the thing that brings her back."


    Ss nodded, pping a hand firmly on Uriah''s shoulder. "That''s more like it."


    The two fell quiet, finishing their cigarettes in somberpanionship. After a moment, Uriah spoke up, "I''m going to check on her again."


    Ss nodded, about to join him when he looked up and saw Archie standing nearby. Nobody had noticed when he''d arrived, but now his gaze was fixed, intense, on Ss.


    "Something on your mind?" Ss asked, frowning at Archie.


    Wordlessly, Archie stepped in closer, his stare unwavering. He held Ss''s gaze for a long moment before finally asking, his voice cold and controlled, "Did you ever do anything to hurt Callie?"


    Ss'' brow creased. "What''s that supposed to mean?" He cared for Callie more than anyone; how could Archie even ask him that? And what right did he have toe. interrogating him now?


    "Just answer. Yes or no did you ever hurt her?" Archie''s face was dark, his fists


    clenched as if he was restraining himself fromshing out.


    "No," Ss replied tersely, looking Archie dead in the eye. "I''d hurt anyone else before I ever hurt her."


    "Are you sure about that?" Archie gave a hollow, bitterugh.


    "What''s your point?" Ss snapped, irritation creeping into his voice. "If you have something to say, then say it."


    "Then take a look at these." Archie suddenly pulled several photos from his pocket and pressed them hard into Ss hand forceful enough that it was clear just how angry he was.


    "I thought you were good for Callie. That''s why I kept quiet. But I won''t let you hurt her like this."


    Ss flipped through the photos, one by one. They showed him holding a woman— unconscious, limp in his arms. She resembled Calliope so much it was unsettling.


    Archie''s voice was tight and cold: "Who is she?"


    "She''s your supposed first love, isn''t she?"


    "Did Callie onlye into your lifeter? Is she just a stand-in for this woman?”


    "Tell me, Mr. Myers-are you trying


    to y some kind of tragic hero in a love triangle?" Archie''s eyes narrowed, anger barely restrained. "If you somuch as let Callie find out


    about this if you dare to furthe


    swear I''ll make you pay."


    Ss drew a sharp breath, scowling. "Archie, you''re jumping to conclusions. What


    evidence do you really have?"


    "Aren''t these photos enough?" Archie shot back.