"Selena, I''m a man, and I''ve been drunk before. When you''re really that intoxicated, your mind shuts down. There''s no way I would have been able to do... that."


    I let out a coldugh and pointed out the obvious. "People don''t just do things like that by ident. There''s always intent behind it."


    As I thought about seeing Sylvia yesterday, something clicked into ce, but I still didn''t want to admit it.


    "Selena, did you put something in my drink?"


    Selena''s expression shifted. She lifted her head and red at me.


    "What is this? Are you really using me of that? Is this just you pulling up your pants and walking away?"


    "Hudson, are you even a man?" she continued.


    Her voice trembled with anger, and her body shook. I knew she might be having another episode, but I couldn''t bring myself to care right now.


    What could I even do? What was there to fix?


    I hade to Adenville with Zion because I missed what Selena and I used to have and felt sorry for her.


    Afterward, staying at the hospital might have been partly out of obligation, but it was also because of her.


    Then I stayed on as an assistant at thepany, unnned, all for her.


    Now, I couldn''t even remember why I had stayed in the first ce.


    Seeing Selena''s distraught expression, I ran a hand through my hair, feeling utterly helpless.


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry." Those were the only words that came to mind. I''d let down Selena, and I''d let down Sylvia.


    Selena seemed to sense something in my reaction and softened a little, letting go of her earlier insistence. She came over, held my hand, and tearfully apologized. "I''m sorry, Hud, I''m really sorry. Please don''t be like this."


    Sometimes, I found it almostughable. Why were Selena and I apologizing to each other? Neither of us had really done anything wrong. We just didn''t love each other enough but still tried to force it.


    Looking at Selena, I shook my head, feeling lost.


    The next moment, I felt a wave of dizziness.


    When I opened my eyes again, I saw only a white ceiling and bright lights above me. The faint smell of antiseptic lingered in the air, and a feeling of sadness welled up in my heart.


    I was truly pathetic, unable even to sort out my feelings.


    Turning my head, I saw Selena sitting by my side, asleep.


    It felt surreal. Selena had actually stayed by my side through the night. Even back when she imed to love me the most, she had never done this.


    I reached out, intending to touch her, but recalling our night together, I withdrew


    my hand. An unnamed sadness surged within me, and they only grew stronger and stronger.


    I didn''t know why, but I couldn''t hold back the feeling in my chest. Perhaps I really was just a failure.


    Selena moved, and her eyes slowly opened. Upon seeing me awake, she rubbed her eyes, and her face lit up with joy. She grasped my hand tightly.


    "Hud, Hud, you''re awake."


    I didn''t understand why my awakening made Selena so happy, but there were moments when I wished I hadn''t woken up, that I could just keep sleeping. Then I could be ignorant of everything, free from having to face anything at all.