Chapter 4

The line went quiet for a couple of seconds, then Harvey dropped his voice.

"All this over something so small? It's just one post. Since when do you care this much what other people think?"

My voice shook with anger. "There are over three thousand comments and every one of them is trashing me. Someone dug up my phone number, my address. You call that small?"

"Sabrina, can you please stop being so sensitive. Silvie was only joking. Besides, those marks on your hands really were something you painted on yourself."

My mouth opened, but something jammed in my throat.

"Make her take it down. Please. I'm begging you."

I didn't want to spend the last days I had left being harassed and cursed at every single day.

Harvey only sighed. "Silvie's post is getting a ton of traction. She's already gained twenty thousand followers. She can't delete it yet."

He hung up. I collapsed onto the bed in despair.

The red veins had already crept past my elbow, coiled around it like a snake.

That night, Harvey came home.

He walked in carrying my favorite cake.

It was his usual move. Whenever he made me angry, he'd use this to smooth things over.

He opened the box, scooped up a spoonful, and held it to my lips.

"What happened today was Silvie's fault. I'm apologizing to you on her behalf. But the result turned out fine in the end."

"Don't be angry anymore, okay?"

The cake tasted the same as it always had. I just didn't feel any of the old happiness after eating it.

He must have taken that as a yes. His eyes lit up with an excitement he couldn't hold back.

For once, he reached out and took my hand. "Sabrina, go pack your things. We leave first thing tomorrow for the South Reef."

I said nothing.

He paused, then added, "Silvie's followers are all begging for new content. We're going to update the exploration guide."

I froze for a second, a buzzing filling my ears.

I pulled my hand free and put a little distance between us. "You promised to take me to see the aurora. We never went."

Harvey's expression stiffened for a moment.

"Sabrina, you need to think about the bigger picture."

"It took forever for our account to finally get traffic. If we keep posting, it might bring us even bigger returns."

I met his eyes, and everything in them felt like a stranger's.

"That's Silvia's account. Not mine."

"If you want to update it, the two of you go. I can't."

He loosened his tie and drew a deep breath.

"Sabrina, this South Reef site is huge. Neither of us has your sense of direction."

"Last time you walked out of a place full of toxic miasma without a scratch. You've got more experience than either of us."

Harvey stared at me, waiting for my answer.

I turned to him and told him the truth. "I can't go. And I won't be going anywhere with you again."

At that he suddenly straightened up, his tone turning irritable.

"I've already explained everything about before. What more do you want."

"And Silvie is your best friend. If you can help her, why wouldn't you? When did you get so selfish?"

The truth was, I didn't want anything. I just had only a few days left to live.

I looked up at him and, all at once, I smiled.

"You're right. I can't seem to see through myself anymore either."

Then I turned and went back to the guest room. "Then I wish you a safe trip."

We would never see each other again.