The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 520

"Josh, I'm fine. I'm sorry for worrying you..."

Wrapped securely in Josh's arms, Sloane lifted her uninjured hand and gently patted his back, soothing him like a frightened animal.

Josh held her for a few more seconds before slowly letting go and taking a half-step back.

He quickly lowered his gaze, hiding the faint rim of red around his eyes. When he looked up again, his usual calm demeanor had returned, though his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He lifted her bandaged wrist, his thumb brushing ever so lightly against a small patch of unbroken skin on her palm. His brows knitted tightly together.

"Does it still hurt?"

Sloane gently pulled her hand from his grasp, a faint, almost imperceptible curve touching her lips.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. They've already bandaged it."

"Right, I'm... a bit hungry. Let's go get some breakfast."

*

The diner was located diagonally across from the hospital's east gate. At six-thirty in the morning, it was already packed with family members of admitted patients.

Josh carried a tray through the narrow aisle. He set down a bowl of warm pumpkin oatmeal, a basket of fresh pastries, a side of hash browns, and two hard-boiled eggs in front of Sloane. He grabbed a set of silverware, wiped it clean with his napkin, and placed it neatly next to her bowl.

"These are the signature items here. I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I got a bit of everything for you to try," he said, taking a seat across from her. He tapped an egg against the table and started peeling the shell.

Sloane looked at the neatly arranged breakfast and the corner of her mouth twitched. "Thank you."

Josh didn't say anything more. He placed the first peeled egg onto the small plate in front of her.

Using her uninjured hand, Sloane picked up a spoon, scooped up some oatmeal, and slowly began to eat with her head lowered.

Josh's gaze fell on her wrist. Although the bandage wasn't terribly thick, holding the bowl was clearly a struggle. The spoon trembled slightly in her grip, spilling a few drops of oatmeal over the edge.

"Sloane, let me feed you. Your hand isn't well," Josh offered, reaching out.

Not him, the man who was supposed to be her boyfriend.

For a fleeting moment, a wave of bitter hatred washed over Josh. He hated his own helplessness, and he hated Garrison even more. *Why did it have to be him?*

"Sloane," Josh finally spoke up after a long pause. "Don't think about anything else right now. Surviving a disaster means the worst is over. Things will get better."

Sloane's spoon froze.

*Surviving a disaster means the worst is over...*

Cassandra had said the exact same thing earlier. She had also mentioned that Garrison was tough, that he had survived countless life-or-death situations since childhood.

*Since childhood. Countless times.*

She hadn't thought much of it then, but now, those words lodged in her heart like a jagged thorn, bringing a suffocating wave of despair.