“Fuck. Gracie.” I pulled her to my side, holding her as she sobbed into the crook of my neck. And I silently cried with her, not being able to hold back any longer. Our cries mixed as we wept together. Mourning a life we’d never get to have. But no. She was going to live. She was going to beat this. She had to.
I pulled away just enough to cup her cheek. “You’re going to beat this, you hear me? You are going to beat this and we’re going to get married and have those five children.” I swiped the tears off her cheeks using the pads of my thumbs. “You’re not going to die on me, Gracie. You’re not.”
“I won’t be able to have children after surgery, Liem.”
“Then we’ll adopt.”
A small smile broke free on her beautiful face. “And maybe more cats.”
I don’t know how, but I managed to let out an insane laugh. Both of us still wet with tears. “Sure, my Gracie. You can have cats. Fuck, you can have whatever animal you want. Cats. Dogs. Pigs. Horses. I don’t care. You want it, it’s yours.”
I leaned into her hand as she touched my face in a warm embrace.
“I love you, Liem.” She rested her forehead on mine. “But please don’t get me any pigs.”
We laughed. Then we cried. I didn’t know how long we stayed in that parking lot for, but leaving made it real, leaving made her dying real and I wasn’t ready to accept that. So, we stayed. Paralyzed to reality.
Just numb.
TWENTY
Danika
My hair falls from my bun as I quickly ruffle it between my fingers tugging down my winter hat. Now that my shift is over, I can relax. Eric wasn’t there today, and it was a relief considering I’ve been avoiding that sleaze as much as possible without being too conspicuous.
My coat wraps around me as I step outside, the cold instantly freezing me down to my toes. I struggle to lock the door because the damn thing never did work right but when I step away, something or someone catches my eye.
A man covered in blood is weakly propped against the diner wall.
My stomach twists as I quickly look around for anyone else. Is this another murder?
My breathing turns heavy and I start to back away slowly, but then… the person’s head slightly moves to the side and…
“Oh my god!”
Their hood is up but I can’t believe I didn’t notice him right away.
Hush’s arms rest lazy at his sides and there’s so much blood.So much blood.On his face, his leather, his sweatshirt underneath. I don’t know what to do. Is ithis? I don’t care who’s on the other end of it, I don’t want it to be his.
“Hush.” My shaky voice carries through the silent winter air.
He doesn’t answer, doesn’t even turn his head to look at me. He keeps his eyes straight to the ground. They are so empty and lifeless as I kneel, feeling the cold skin on his cheek. Still no movement. Not even a flinch.
“Are you hurt? Is this your blood?” It’s agonizing waiting for an answer as I scan him up and down.
But with a small shake of his head, the air releases into my lungs again.
Thank God.
“Can you walk?”
Nothing.
Not a beat of anything.
Okay, then.
“I’m going to help you up, but you gotta give me something.” I position myself next to him, gently taking his arm and swinging it over my shoulders. He lets me, without a freak out, so I continue struggling to get him up off the cold, wet, snowy sidewalk.
