Where did Torin go?
A nurse’s voice,kind but brisk: “Lexi, you’re at County in Brevard. We’re starting fluids. You’re going to feel better soon.”
My lips stuck together when I tried to answer. “Where…? Home?” The word broke apart, too heavy to finish.
“Save your strength,” the nurse said.
They wheeled me into a smaller room. The ceiling blurred. An IV bag hung above me, clear tubing running to my arm. Somewhere, a monitor beeped slow and steady.
I thought of Torin then — his hand on the reins, the solid weight of him beside me, the steady confidence in his voice when I’d been too sick to think straight. The sound of him saying my name, Princess, because I was his Princess now.
I realized with a dull ache that I’d never hear it again.
My head hurt,but I hadn’t thrown up in hours, thankfully.
It was the first time I felt like I would survive.
I looked around the room. No one was here.
A nurse stuckher head through the door. “You’re awake! There’s some people here who are worried about you. I’ll send them in!”
My heart filled, I was going to be able to thank him for getting me home. We would decide what to do next — I wanted to touch him again, for him to sit by my bedside while I recovered, talking to me about the day, bringing me strength.
Then through the door walked Jen and Cooper.
Oh.
They pulled up chairs on opposite sides of my bed.
Jen said, “Thank God you’re here!”
“We were so worried.”
“Coop didn’t leave the porch.”
“That was scary as hell, thank God you survived.”
They held my hands.
I looked back and forth at their faces.
Coop said, “Damn how long were you gone? It was less than a day here.”
Jen said, “How long were you sick?”
My chin trembled.
Where’s Torin?
Jen said, “Aw, honey, Torin had to go...”
She kept talking, but I looked at Cooper’s face. He said, “Don’t worry, Lexi, we’re going to make sure none of this happens to you ever again.”
A tear rolled down my face.
I wanted to see Torin again, and he wasn’t here.
A few moments later, Jen patted my arm.How about we let you rest?
