Whispers Carved Into the Wind 6

Chapter 6 

The past few months abroad felt like forever. 

At first I couldn’t adjust. But Garrett took care of everything. 

He took me to every hospital, planned out my meals down to the gram, even tracked down ingredients for New England clam chowder because I mentioned missing it once. 

Garrett learned to cook because of me. 

Years ago, after our parents died in that car accident, I locked myself in my room and wouldn’t eat. He was barely eighteen. But he put on an apron and taught himself how to make all my favorite foods. 

Back then I held onto my mom’s stuffed rabbit and cried myself to sleep every night. He packed up our parents’ things without saying a word, took over the family business, and protected me from everything. He was my brother and my dad and my whole world. 

With Garrett, I always felt safe. That’s just how it was. 

I rested my chin in my hand and looked out the window. The neighbor’s kids built a row of snowmen with red scarves. I 

smiled. 

“Garrett, I wanna go play in the snow.” 

[ looked at him with puppy eyes. 

He never stopped me from doing anything. But every time I went out alone, the worry in his eyes made me feel guilty. 

So I added quickly, “I feel good today. If you’re not busy… can we build a snowman together?” 

Garrett put down his coffee. His eyes softened. “Yeah. Let’s go.” 

got all excited and ran toward the door. Then he grabbed the back of my coat and pulled me back. 

‘Scarf.” 

Before I could react, he wrapped this thick scarf around my neck. Then gloves, snow boots, earmuffs, and a coat that went 

ast my knees. By the time he was done, I looked like a marshmallow. 

He patted my head. “See? You don’t even need a boyfriend. I’ve got you covered.” 

paused. Tried to keep my voice light. “You take care of me the exact same way Callum used to.” 

He looked at me for a long time, eyes dark, mouth barely smiling. “Maybe Callum and I aren’t that different.” 

Then he leaned down and tied the strings under my chin into a neat bow. Like what he just said didn’t mean anything. 

But I stood there frozen. My chest felt weird. 

What’s he saying? 

The same as Callum? 

Like… one day he’ll forget me too? Hurt me for someone else? 

No. I shut that thought down immediately. 

Garrett’s not Callum. He’d never do that. 

But that half-finished sentence still bugged me. 

He always did this. Said stuff that made me overthink everything. 

I stomped outside and grabbed the snow shovel, jamming it into the snow over and over like I was stabbing Garrett’s smug 

face. 

Clang- 

The shovel slipped out of my hand and hit the ground. 

I tried to bend down to pick it up. But my arm was stuck in midair. Wouldn’t move. 

Before I could call for help, Garrett scooped me up. 

I pressed my face against his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. One thump, then another. Calm and safe. 

ALS. The doctors said there’s no cure. Just meds and care to slow it down. 

My muscles get weaker and stiffer until they stop working. Eventually I can’t even breathe. 

I lay in bed while Garrett pulled the blanket over me. I tried to joke. “Guess it was too cold outside. I got frozen.” 

He leaned close, voice shaking a little. “Yeah. Once it warms up, you’ll be fine.” 

I went quiet for a long time. Then I said it, serious and clear: 

‘Garrett, someone like me… I’m not cut out to be anyone’s wife. Or girlfriend.” 

I was turning him down as gently as I could. 

But he lifted his head and leaned in close. His eyes looked right into mine. 

The emotion there hit me hard. 

So I’d been ignoring it this whole time. 

Then his expression relaxed. His voice stayed calm, like he was talking about the weather: 

“If you pick me as your brother, I’ll take care of you like family.” 

“If you pick me as your boyfriend, I’m still family. Just with one extra thing. Not that different.” 

He paused. “I’m greedy, though. I want both.” 

“Vivian, don’t say no yet.” His eyes were careful, almost begging. “At least let me try.”