“Are you sure?”I asked.
“Of course.”He leaned over and gave me a peck on the lips before jumping to his feet.
“Thank you for doing this with me,” Janice said.
I held out my hand.“Come on.The longer we wait, the closer we get to visiting hours ending.”
Chapter Nineteen
The woman’s name wasErica.Her room was quiet, except for the soft hum of the monitors and the occasional distant sound of a nurse passing by.The older woman was resting, her bed tilted up.Her grey hair was in a long braid that rested over her shoulder, the strands shimmering like silver in the soft light of the room.She looked like she had been a tall woman full of life, but whatever sickness she had chipped away at the brightness.She was still fighting, but it was clear she was approaching the end.
“She’s asleep,” Janice whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she hovered by the door.Her eyes darted nervously to Erica and then back to me, like she wasn’t sure if she should go further into the room or run away.
“She’ll be happy to see you when she wakes up,” I said gently, pushing her into the room and guiding her to a chair beside the bed.
Janice lowered herself into the chair, her hands twisting in her lap as she stared at the frail woman before her.I pulled up a chair beside her, ready to stay as long as she needed.
A short time later, Erica stirred, her eyelids fluttering open.She turned her head toward Janice and simply stared—silent, unreadable.The moment stretched so long that I began to wonder if she even realized Janice was there.
“So you are alive,” Erica finally croaked, her voice dry but carrying a spark of sharpness that said she would never accept bullshit as an answer.I liked her instantly.
“That I am,” Janice said.
Erica let out a soft hum, her sharp gaze never leaving Janice as she gestured to the side table, where a cup of water sat.Janice was quick to respond, retrieving the drink.Her movements were careful as she kept the cup steady while Erica drew a drink out through the straw.
After a long swallow, Erica pulled away and Janice put the cup back on the table.She looked at Janice again, tilting her head slightly.
“You disappeared,” she said matter-of-factly, though there was a faint edge of hurt in her tone.
“I didn’t mean to do that,” Janice replied, her voice thickening with emotion.She sat back down but leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly together.“Life got complicated.I—” She paused, swallowing hard.“I’m sorry, Erica.I should have found a way to contact you.”
Erica regarded her silently, her expression softening a fraction.“You were safe this entire time?”Her question was nearly a whisper.
“Yes.”Janice reached over and grabbed Erica’s hand.Her eyes shimmered with tears as she said, “I was safe.Safer than I had been for a long, long time.It wasn’t easy, but I was okay.I’m still okay.”
Erica leaned back slightly, her thin shoulders relaxing against the pillows.“You could’ve written,” she said, though her words lacked any heat.
