She lifted her chin and spoke proudly.
"Silas is willing to walk ninety-nine steps. Why can't I take one step toward him? He never once said he wanted to leave me. So why should I leave him? Others may not accept me, but Silas does. He stays beside me because he loves me, and I will stay beside him because I love him."
Her voice was trembling at the end, but her words did not break.
Ivy gave a cold laugh. It was sharp like broken glass.
"That is not love. How can you call it love when you are willing to let him die just by staying near him? That is selfishness."
Patricia only shrugged.
"Maybe it looks selfish to you. But to me, it is love. Even if I die, I want to die beside him. Even if he dies, I want him to die beside me. Love is not always clean or perfect. Sometimes it is messy. Sometimes it hurts. But it is still love."
Her eyes gleamed with stubbornness as she continued.
