After another couple of deep breaths, Angel sat next to me, our backs pressed against the wall and shoulders jammed together in the small space. As much as I would like to say it was a nice distraction, my head got worse, however improbable that may be. I felt a trickle of liquid slide down my temple to land in the hollow of my neck, but I just figured it was sweat. Until Angel started to wipe it off with a really concerned look on his face. "Mawce, you... you're bleeding. The horns are starting to poke through your skin, I think."

    Great. Yet another fantastic piece of news. It was so painful I couldn't speak, but I think Angel understood, because he walked away and came back with a first-aid kit, ibuprofen, and a peanut butter sandwich. While he bandaged my head, blood steadily soaking its way through each layer of fabric, I ate the sandwich, grateful for all Angel had ever done for me. When he was done, he offered his arm to help me get back to my bed. I took it, and  slowly we made our way down the hall. I'm pretty sure I nearly passed out a couple of times, but Angel held me steady through it all. 

     He laid me down, and started to pull the covers up, but I mustered one word. "...Stay." He did. Curled around each other in a too-small bed, blood soaking onto the pillowcase, Angel whispered part of what he had said in german weeks ago. "Ich habe mich in dich verliebt." I wanted to ask what it meant, but before I could form the words on my tongue, he kissed me. "I'm not going anywhere, Mawce. I know you're probably worried about that, but I don't care." In my head, I said thank you, only because I couldn't say it now. 

     I fell asleep soon after, and the only thing I can remember is a dream where I was lying on the ground, blood pooling around me as my horns grew and I died. I woke up in a cold sweat, panting and scared. The good news was that my head, although bloody, had dulled to a bearable ache. I felt Angel's hands on my chest, pulling me back to lie down. 

"What happened?"

"I... I had a nightmare."

"I'm here, love. I'm here."

He kissed me once more, and we fell asleep holding each other tightly.