Bernice wanted to disappear.
At the same time, she braced for impact.
He was falling straight toward her… far too large, far too fast… and her mind, ever efficient in catastrophe, calculated the damage in vivid detail.
Three broken ribs. Minimum.
At least five fractures.
Possible internal bleeding.
And judging by the angle… Yes, likely brain damage.
Good! I'll die before I have to live through this embarrassment.
She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for pain.
It came… but not as expected.
Her back struck the marble. The back of her head knocked lightly against the floor. A sharp sting flared…and then…
Nothing else.
No crushing weight.
No ribs shattering.
No air being knocked out of her lungs.
Slowly, cautiously, Bernice opened her eyes.
Everything was blurry. Her glasses… gone. She squinted, trying to make sense of the indistinct shape hovering above her…
The wall of… was that muscle?
