Chapter 85

• I wasn't entirely surprised when sleep didn't come. Even though I was more exhausted than she'd ever felt before, the much-needed rest that sleep would have brought her was an ever-elusive commodity she simply couldn't reach. My thoughts flitted to what life without Xavier would be like. Though I was stronger than I'd ever been, I knew it was a future that I wouldn't want to live in. I wouldn't want to live without Steve in it either, though their roles in my life have been very different.
• For hours, I stayed by Xavier's side, praying and hoping that he would be okay. I prayed to all of the goddesses. I prayed to the moon. I listened to his breathing with a laser focus despite having a piercingly sharp headache, most likely set off by all the stress and worry. I would take a thousand headaches if it meant that Xavier was going to wake up soon and that everything would be fine again.
• My apprehensive thoughts shifted to Steve as well. He still hadn't returned home yet, and I couldn't help but fear the worst. If Xavier had been able to make it back in his condition, it must have meant that Steve was worse off. Or maybe he'd been captured. Or maybe he just hadn't been able to find a way back yet. Perhaps he was still making his way here. I went through various possibilities but found it hard to convince myself of the more favorable ones.