Chapter 11

After a long moment, Clifford pulled his arm away without looking at her. He turned to Yesenia, his voice softening. "I'll take you back to the hospital."

"But..." Yesenia started to protest, but one look at his icy expression and the words died in her throat. Right now, he was like a razor blade wrapped in cotton— seemingly soft, but deadly to the touch. She didn't dare push him.

"My foot hurts," she whimpered instead. "Carry me."

Clifford bent down and lifted her into his arms, right in front of Latisha. Yesenia wrapped her arms around his neck and shot Latisha a look of pure victory. “See?” her eyes said. "You're nothing to him."

He walked out with Yesenia in his arms, not even sparing Latisha a final glance. The slight breeze from his movement stirred the hair at her temple. She lowered her head, her hands falling limply to her sides.

Once Clifford was gone, the suffocating tension in the room finally broke. Flint hurried over and helped Latisha to her feet. "Are you okay?"

She was silent for a moment before looking up at him with a small, sad smile and shaking her head.