I can't give it to you. I only have half. I need to hurry up and take back the half that Rowen stole. But I keep, I just keep thinking about it.

What if you get sick? What if you get hurt? What if you grow old? What if you leave this world before me?

When my thoughts reach that point, my hand moves first. Toward my chest. This remaining half... if I give you even this, maybe you could live a little longer. If I give you this, maybe you'll hurt less.

In all the thousands of years I've lived, I've never cared about my heart like this. Originally, it was just there. It just beat. But lately, I keep checking. Is it still there? Is it beating well? I can feel it beating faster when your hand touches me, and that makes me feel both embarrassed and happy.

It beats like this, even though it's only half.

I should have killed Rowen that day. Of all the things to lose, why did it have to be my heart? I want to go find him right now and get it back. Then I want to place the whole thing in your hands. And tell you, 'This is all yours.'

Because you have to stay by my side. You can't die. That's why I want to give it to you. Because you being alive by my side is more important. When I see you sleeping peacefully next to me, this half-heart thumps. Because you're so lovely. Because I feel like I might lose you at any moment.

My chest feels so restless, it's driving me crazy.