“Ma’am, come with me.”
“I’m not leaving him!”
“He had a concealed weapon.”
“Keep pressure on the wound. He’s losing blood fast.”
“I’ll take you. We’ll be right behind them.”
“He’s not responsive.”
Darkness.
“BP’s dropping. He’s going into shock.”
“Call trauma surgery down here now!”
“Get her out of here.”
“Possible laceration of the liver. He could be bleeding out internally.”
“Prep surgery.”
“Will someone get her out of here?!”
Darkness.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
“I love you. Don’t leave me.”
Darkness.
“We were able to control the bleeding and repair the damage. He’s not out of the woods yet, but he’s stable.”
Darkness.
“Vanessa, you need to rest.”
“I’m not leaving, Dex.”
“I’ll stay with?—”
“I’m not leaving.”
Darkness. But this time there was warmth. Like the length of her was pressed beside him. For the first time, the darkness felt like sleeping.
“How long has it been?”
“Forty-eight hours. She hasn’t left his side, Joel.”
“Come with me to get something to eat and a shower.”
“I can’t, Lu. I can’t.”
Darkness.
“I love you. Please come back to me.”
