That night at ten , at the bar . Emerie sat at the bar counter , her third whiskey in front . A stranger approached : " Alone ? Wanna drink together ? " She didn't respond . The man moved closer anyway , slinging an arm over her shoulder . " Get lost , " she muttered . " Don't be so cold , gorgeous . Let's have fun . " Suddenly , a hand yanked the man's shoulder , throwing him aside . " She told you to leave , " Andrew said coldly . " Need it in sign language ? " The man stumbled away cursing . " Hero saving the damsel ? " Emerie laughed bitterly " Why are you here ? " " Can't drown my sorrows ? " She looked up , meeting his eyes . " Answer me one thing . Back then , were you two - timing ? " Three seconds of silence . " You already know . " The air turned to ice . She smiled faintly . " So you finally admit it . " " Not that I wouldn't say , just didn't know how . " " So you ran . " She set down her glass . " Vanished without a proper goodbye . " " I was a bastard then . " " Why ask now ? " He pressed . " What's wrong with you lately ? " She paused , back turned . " Just wanted closure before leaving . " 0.0 % 00:05 288 Nouchers Chapter 2 " Where are you going ? " " Anywhere's better than here . " She walked away , her exit clean and swift . Next day , alcohol poisoning landed her in the ER . The hospital called Andrew . He rushed to find her alone in bed , ghostly pale , emergency contact listed as his old studio address . " You live like this ? " " Used to it , " she rasped . " How long you been sick ? " " Old news . " She shrugged it off . Andrew scanned the chart silently , then ordered congee and meds . That night , he sat by her bed for the first time , studying her sleeping face . Gaunt . Fragile . Silent as a flower holding its last bloom . 64.1 %