CRACKS

GINGER: In an instant, my world collapses, and for a moment, I hope this is one of those nightmares I have. I hope I will wake up to find myself in my room, asleep in Caspian's arms, and he will console me, but the more my nails dig into my skin, trying to pinch myself back to life, the more I realize that this isn't a dream. The weight of Caspian's words settles over the room like a suffocating fog, and everyone keeps staring at me as my body turns cold. I hate the way they are waiting for an answer, because I really do not think I have one. "Ginger." Hana's voice draws me back to reality, and I look at her, my eyes turning cloudy as tears build up. "Tell me it is not true." I shake my head as she says this, wishing it was possible to tell her it wasn't true. I force my lips to move, but my throat is dry, my pulse hammering in my ears as I try to speak. A tear drops from my eye as I finally manage to whisper, "It was only once." My voice cracks. "It didn't mean anything." I look at Ca