Fragile Defiance

COLE

Daphne wakes up angry. I know this because the first thing she does when her eyes finally open properly is glare at me and whisper, "Why are you still here?"

I straighten in the chair beside her bed. "Good morning to you too."

She looks awful. Better than last night, according to the doctors, but still awful. Her skin is pale enough that the blue veins show through. Her lips are dry