Hey, guys! I apologize for how long this story was put on hiatus. I had a very busy year and I feel so bad for not having the time to write! I hope this chapter makes up for it and from now on I will do my best to be much more active!

When I woke up, I felt weak and lightheaded. Blood loss wasn't absent of consequences.

I spent most of the day sitting on my bed, lost in thought. Why did he keep coming here when he knew all I'd do was tell him to leave?

And why did some part of me almost hope he'd return?

I tried to shake it off, but the feeling lingered. I chose to ignore it. Emotion was the enemy these days, and I had felt nothing but pain for months.

The possibility of anything else seemed bleak.

Jack didn't come back on that day, or the next. It was almost a full week before the boy appeared in my window once again.

I hadn't missed him. It wasn't that extreme. But I wasn't as annoyed with him for arriving as I had been before.

"Rapunzel."

"Jack."

He walked slowly over to me, and we made eye contact, him asking permission to sit down. I hesitated, but nodded.

Sitting down next to me on the bed, he looked at me, something heavy in his expression.

"How are you doing?"

I took a deep breath.

"Do you want me to lie to make you happy, or tell the truth?"

He seemed a bit taken aback by my response, a bit unsure.

After a minute, he said,

"I want the truth."

I swallowed, looking away. I didn't want to see those crystal blue eyes fill with pity.

"Life is shit."

We were silent for a moment.

"I'm- I'm sorry." he said softly.

"You don't have to be. Not like it's your fault."

There was another awkward pause.

"Do you want me to leave?" he asked, shifting his position.

"No," I said softly, my answer surprising the both of us.

Sitting there with him was oddly comforting, I learned.

After he left late that night, I spent fifteen minutes fingering my razor, unsure.

In a sudden burst of horrible anxiety, I slashed my scars open, blood pouring out.

Oh, God, I'm such a fucking disaster, I thought hopelessly.

Disgusted with myself, I collapsed onto my bed, into the empty escape of a dreamless sleep.

He came back the next day. And the next.

We'd sit on my bed, just sit there. I hadn't had someone to just sit with in so long, and his presence alone was almost reassuring.

He'd always ask me how I was doing. Sometimes I'd tell the truth. Other times I'd lie. I was embarrassed, to be honest. I felt like a failure for thinking of myself as one.

That he would start seeing me like I saw myself.

But nothing I said could hide the fact that he was beginning to grow on me. I was beginning to look forward to seeing his tall, skinny silhouette at my window.

I even forgot about my razors once or twice.

Our silent meetings had been occurring for almost a month when he suddenly spoke up on a particularly chilly December afternoon.

"Have you ever been outside, Rapunzel?"

I was taken aback by the question, a sudden flood of memories hitting me. Eugene. I felt myself tighten up as I mumbled out a yes.

"It didn't go too well."

A pause.

"Have you ever been outside during winter?"

I looked at him, a bit shocked.

"No."

He took a deep breath, as if he was thinking to himself, 'now or never.'

"Would you ever want to?"

I glanced away, my mouth frozen in the shape of an answer that wouldn't come out.

"I- I don't think so." I stuttered after a moment. "I haven't been outside since..."

I trailed off, feeling more broken than ever.

"...Mother, she forbids it."

He nodded, looking away. The conversation was over.

"Will you at least come to the window with me tonight?" he asked as he stood up to leave a bit later.

"I don't like watching you go." I said softly.

"I don't like leaving you behind."

His answer surprised me. I looked up to meet his gaze.

"Please come to the window."

I suddenly felt a bit flustered. I nodded.

We walked over to the window, the both of us bathed in pale moonlight.

"You'll come back tomorrow, right?" I asked as he climbed onto the windowsill. I was suddenly conscious of the fact that this was the first time I really formally invited him.

He seemed a bit stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered as his face lit up.

"Yeah." he said, smiling. "Of course I will."

I gave him a slight smile in return, realizing at that moment that it was the first time I had smiled after Eugene's death.

He pushed off against the ledge with his bare feet, and I watched as he hovered there for a moment. He waved, and I waved in response.

With that, he flew off into the night.

I stayed at the window, watching him until he disappeared.

Even after he was gone, I stayed.

I fell asleep there, feeling safe beneath the comforting gaze of the gently falling snow.