I hear a slump at the door, then a weak knock.

Oh gods, please. Please, please, please…

I open the door slowly to find a body there, clothes ripped up, eyes dark and hollow. My wife’s eyes. I swear, my blood ran cold. My heart fell to my stomach.

I let out a shaky noise I didn’t know I was holding before carefully helping her inside, praying that she will stay awake. Praying that all the blood on her clothes isn’t hers.

“You… you idiot,” I whisper, breathless. “You disappeared for a whole week. I had no idea where you were. I— I thought… I thought— I don’t even know what I thought.”

I take my wand out quickly, readying my healing magic as she bleeds out onto the floor. I don’t know what happened, I don’t know how to feel, but I can’t let my emotions get to me. Not now.

“Strip. I need to see your wounds.”