What kind of people were they?
“Amy,” Alexei’s voice called out after me, shaking with anger. “Come back here right now. This conversation isn’t over.”
I stepped out into the street and didn’t look back.
Oh, I knew what kind of person he was. Bossy, egotistical, and dangerous.
Just what had I got myself into?
Chapter Four
Amy
My life was a never-ending circle of work and looking after my sister, and the meeting with the egotistical and bossy Alexei hadn’t changed a damn thing. I just went about my days in quiet desperation that something had to change soon.
There was tiredness and exhaustion, and then there was what I was feeling. It was like my bones were weary. My brain felt fried, but deep down I knew that I would have to make a very hard decision very soon.
The idea of putting her in hospice care wasn’t one I wanted to think of, but there had been no viable donors, and her heart was failing.
I was so lost in my own jumbled thoughts as I trudged along the wet sidewalk that I didn’t notice the flashing lights reflected in the puddles until I was right outside my home and had lifted my head to find an ambulance parked right outside.
My breath hitched, my heart slammed into my chest with such force that it felt like it was going to smash right out of my rib cage.
Dropping my bag onto the sidewalk, I sprinted forward, rushing towards the open front door at breakneck speed. A paramedicappeared, and I skidded to a stop, breathing heaving as they wheeled my sister out. Her frail body was strapped to the gurney but not covered. There was a mask over her face, and I could see her breath fog it up with every labored breath she took.
Another paramedic worked on her, quickly securing wires. Tripping over my own feet to get to her, I let out a cry, and their heads turned towards me.
“What happened to her?” Righting myself, I grabbed at my sister’s clammy hand. I rubbed my thumb over her palm. How was it possible that she was so cold and so sweaty all at the same time?
“She called in with chest pains,” one of the paramedics said quickly. “The line went dead, and when we got over here, we had to break down the door because she was unconscious.”
My eyes flicked to the door. It wasn’t just open, it was smashed almost completely off the hinges.
“Doesn’t matter,” I whispered. “Is she OK?”
She didn’t look OK. My sister looked grey like she was already dead.
“And you are?”
“Her sister. I take care of her.” I fell into step with them as they wheeled her quickly towards the ambulance.
It didn’t matter that my front door was open or if my bag was lying forgotten in the street. I just wanted to know that she was going to be OK. Neither one of them answered me.
“Is she going to be OK?” My hand fell to my side as the trolley was lifted into the back. It was only then that one of them turned towards me.
“We are going to do everything we can for your sister. She is in good hands, but we have to leave. Are you able to get to the hospital by yourself? The doctors will be able to give you a better update when she is there.”
Longingly, I stared into the back. Usually, I would ride with her. The fact that I wasn’t allowed this time just proved to me how serious this was.
Mutely, I nodded.
I didn’t move even as the ambulance moved away. It was like I couldn’t. My feet felt like they were rooted to the spot.
“Amy?”
I didn’t move. Tears ran down my face, or maybe it was the rain. I was no longer sure. All I knew was that I was suddenly numb. I had failed her. I hadn’t been there when she needed me.
“Amy, are you OK?”
