Mark nods.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
Patrick doesn’t answer but takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze as he brings his phone to his ear.
Once he’s done, he turns to me. “If I had to guess, I’d say Mark appears to be having a cardiac event. The paramedics will be here soon and can give him some pain relief.”
“Pain relief? But what if …”
“Cassie,” Mark grunts. “Come and sit with me.”
Even though my feet are concrete, I push myself up and sit beside him. Any colour has gone from his face now. In a matter of weeks, the life has drained out of him, but I see it more than ever now.
It’s breaking my heart.
He raises his hand to his chest again and grimaces.
“They’ll be here soon, and we’ll get some answers.” Patrick directs the words to me, but he doesn’t have to try to reassure me.
I know what this means—I know there’s no coming back.
Whether this is a heart attack or not, the only thing they will do is make him comfortable. They’ll do what they can to stop the pain, but it’s still happening.
Mark’s dying.
A siren echoes in the distance. They’re coming but there’s a part of me that wishes they’d take him to hospital.
But we’re past that point.
Patrick places his hands on my forearms. I blink a bunch of times before I meet his gaze, and I nod. I let him help me to a nearby chair and sit.
He takes care of everything.
He goes to the door and lets the paramedics in.
He shows them the GP’s letter.
“We’ve got some medication to help make you comfortable, okay?” The female paramedic smiles, and Mark nods. “Did you want to stay on the couch, or can we help you to bed?”
“I’d just like to lie here if I could.”
I swallow hard.
He’s going to die right here in the living room.
His gaze hits mine. “Cassie? I don’t?—”
“I’m not leaving.”
He nods, and they administer the medication.
Patrick rushes around gathering pillows to prop him up, and Mark’s eyelids flutter.
They stand back to give him room, and Patrick takes hold of my hand. I stare up at him.
“How about we sit you next to him?”
I let him guide me toward the couch where he’s pulled up a kitchen chair.
