His hallow blue eyes lifted up away from the cement floor and then he saw her. Her frame was thinning and frail, the weight she had left resided primarily in her abdomen. The round of her belly showed the only substantial meat on her bones. Still, their baby was safe. John released a sweet breath of relief, instinctively a slight grin graced his lips when Sabrina returned his gaze. Every atom in his body screamed at him to run to her, to shatter the shackles that kept them apart, to grab her in his arms and refuse to let go.
His darling wife stood so severely restrained despite her fragility. The guards had bound her hands and feet with metal shackles, two grown men stood with a grip on both sides of her, clinging to her body as if she would float away like a piece of paper.
Sabrina's lips — cracked and pale — opened, John squinted to make out the words she mouthed. In the end, all he could make out was I love you. As much as he tried to resist it, John felt salted tears prick at his eyes, threatening to destroy his facade and the last shred of his soul. "Sabbie," his voice was so hoarse, but he didn't mind the harshness in his throat as he shouted her beautiful name. Nor did he mind the blow from the guard's stick that came at his back as he continued. The words came out softer this time, "I love you."
