Fighting to keep my eyes open, I look at his distraught face, tears streaming down. I don’t want to leave him, I realize. “I don’t want to die,” I wheeze out.
Ezra’s pained expression imprints itself in my brain as he chokes on a sob. “You’re not going to die, Kaeli. Please, Feather.” He assures himself more than me, rocking me on his lap. “Look, the ambulance is here. Stay with me.”
As I feel myself slipping away, my eyes begging to just close and take a breath, I fear it might betoo late. I’m tired.
“I…I love you, Ezra,” I breathe out, hoping he’ll forgive me for not saying it to him earlier.
“Don’t say that to me, Kaeli. Not now. Tell me later, you hear me?” He begs me, staring at me like I’m breaking his heart. Maybe I am, as I feel my own heart fracturing.
My lids begin to give in to exhaustion. I’ll just close my eyes for a minute.
“Don’t close your eyes, Feather,” he screams as he slaps my face.
I feel him being pulled away, but my surroundings begin to fade away.
The last thing I see is Ezra’s fear-stricken face as he tries to get to me. I love you, I think I say again.
But I wouldn’t know because utter darkness embraces me.
Forty Nine
Kaeli
It hurts.
My body aches everywhere.
I feel like a truck rolled over me again and again until my bones were crushed.
A sterile smell floods my senses, making me wonder where I am. My eyes flutter open, and I release a groan of pain when the light pricks my eyes, too heavy for my brain to bear.
I give it one more try, squinting at my surroundings. I’m in a hospital, I discover. Then I remember why. John, Jodi, kidnapping,and the shooting. Too many memories assault my brain at once, running in a loop of events.
So, I try to focus on one thing. I survived. I’m alive. I didn’t die.
The rhythmic beeping of the machine pulls me from my thoughts, and my gaze instantly falls on the mop of dark hair on my bed.
Ezra sits beside me as he dozes off with his head on my bed. His unshaved face looks so tired, and dark circles encompass his beautiful eyes.
My heart beats again at the sight of him, and a breath I didn’t know I was holding escapes my mouth.
I raise my hand attached to several tubes and ever so gently caress his face. His eyes snap open at the barest of touches.
My breath hitches as he sits straight with slow movements. It feels like a lifetime has passed since we last saw each other.
I wait for him to say something as he continues to silently stare at me with his intense ocean eyes. When he doesn’t, my insides churn. “Ezra…” I speak, but my voice sounds so groggy as if I have forgotten how to speak.
That spurs him into action, and he makes mesit up a little and hands me a glass of water with a straw. I grab the glass and greedily sip on it, not realizing how parched my throat was until now.
I take a deep breath as he places the glass back. “Ezra–” I try again, but he cuts me off.
“Don’t you fucking dare scare me again,” he grits, the vein in his neck fluttering. “I thought…” his breath stutters. “I thought I lost you. I thought you died.” He swipes away an angry tear that falls without his permission.
“I’m sorry.” I open my palm for him to place his hand on.
He grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles, caressing them with the pad of his thumb. “I know, I’m sorry for not protecting you. I should’ve been there.” Guilt and regret reflect in his eyes.
I squeeze his hand. “You did protect me. If not for you, I may not be alive.”
