CHAPTER 17

KRISTINA'S POV

That's what I was trying to avoid the moment I had started to think about this plan. I hadn't realized that I'm already thinking so much about it.

"Nathan–"

And then he hugs me once again. This time he holds me close to his chest like he always does, as if it's the most natural thing in the world for him to embrace me like that. I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze him as I cry and sob my heart out.

After some time, I get over myself and I pull away from his hug. I wipe off the tear tracks on my cheeks with my sleeves. It takes me some time to regain my composure. Then I look up into his eyes and speak again.

"It wasn't like this before. Not when you asked me what made me want to run away." I try to force myself to smile, but I doubt that my attempt comes off as convincing.

"Kris…"

"Before this all began I felt like I didn't belong anywhere. Like I wasn't normal. Like I was nothing more than an experiment. But then when you came along… I became the happies