Ever & Kingsley

KINGSLEY, feared and respected among the kingdom, is training with his fellow knights when he spots the village DOCTOR waiting for him. Ending practice early, he meets the doctor at the stables to privately discuss the health of Kingsley's wife EVER. It is as he feared, she is indeed dying and will continue to get worse every time he touches her, due to a curse her bloodline holds. Kingsley decides to keep this tragic news a secret from her and thanks the doctor for his help and discretion. Kingsley heads home and meets Ever, who is a very affectionate person. He tries to play it cool but never has been more aware of her touch than he is now. As life goes on, he physically avoids her whenever possible and his guilt at leaving her in the dark about her condition causes him to avoid her more and more. Ever notices that something is bothering Kingsley, and she questions him about it, but he denies it. Instead, he goes outside and vomits, his guilt overtaking him. After coming home from a long journey, Kingsley notices that Ever is upset with him. When she questions him later that day, he is certain she knows about his lie and is relieved to discover that she doesn't. Kingsley begins to grow careless and hurts himself during training. The doctor tries to convince him to tell Ever the truth, but instead, he lets the distance and lies drive them apart. Ever decides to leave him, and as her dad waits outside for her, she unexpectedly hugs Kingsley goodbye. For a moment everything feels right again. Until she offers him a second chance. He pushes her away for the last time. Eventually, Kingsley learns through one of his squires that Ever's mom is forcing her to get remarried. He debates on objecting to the wedding but decides against it. Instead, he gets drunk and passes out on his couch. The next morning he awakes to Ever. She has discovered the truth about the curse and still wants to be with him. Though hesitant, he agrees. The two go about their day-to-day life, avoiding touching when possible and downplaying the touches that do happen. Time passes and the two grow desperate for touch. One morning as Ever is dressing, Kingsley offers to tie her gown. She hesitates, but he insists that he will touch nothing but the ties of her dress. This rare intimate moment ends with him accidentally brushing against a clothed part of her body unknowingly. As they watch their friends' families grow, they separately mourn the fact that Ever will never be a mother, culminating in her sobbing on the hallway floor of her friend's house after putting one of the young children down to nap. One night after several attempts to get comfortable, she watches Kingsley sleep, and against her better judgment begins to gently trace his body with her fingertips. He stirs some but does not wake even as she kisses him. The next morning, he watches her lie there peacefully, before realizing that she looks a little too peaceful. Unsure of whether he should shake her or not, he calls out her name before nudging her, first gently then harder. As he leans down to listen for breath, he realizes that he has failed her. Despite his best efforts to keep her safe, she has died. And it is his fault. Knowing his life will never again hold any light, he stares into the distance and takes in this new world he now lives in.