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CHAPTER TWELVE

We need to run.

We need to get safe.

He’ll die.

He’ll leave me.

I’ll never see him again.

He’s just out of reach. I can’t grab him.

Lockland.

Please, Lockland, come with me.

I need you.

Why isn’t he moving?

Please, Lockland.

“I love you, Swan.”

Blood. So much blood, it spewed from his mouth.

“You did this, Swan.”

A scream tore out of my throat as I sat up in bed, gripping my chest. A choked sob broke free, and I slumped back down to the mattress. Rolling to my side, I wrapped my arms around my waist as the tears flowed.

I missed him.

How was it possible for me to miss him so much when I didn’t have much time with him?

I knew why. He’d already been embedded into my soul. Ever since he moved in next door.

I let out a mournful groan.

I hope you forgive me for coming into your life again, Lockland.

I pray that you don’t regret me.

Closing my eyes, I rolled to my belly and shoved my face into my pillow and screamed.

Wishing I’d died instead of him.

Wishing she’d shot me.

I was choking on the guilt eating at my soul.

I love you, Lockland. I’ll always love you.

My alarm blared. I grabbed my phone and turned it off. When I slapped the device to the bed, I took a shuddering breath and pushed myself to sit and wiped at my face. My nose had healed over the last few weeks, and now I sometimes forgot I even got it done.

What hurt was my chest. I rubbed at it.

Ever since that day, it felt like there was a hole there.