My first conscious awareness is the screaming.
My first thought is, “who’s the pussy screaming like a girl?”But it doesn’t take long for me to realize that it’s me—I’m the pussy.
“Where’s the pain coming from?”That voice stops my screaming.It’s Declan’s voice.I don’t understand why he’s here.Where am I?I thought I was dead.I’m cold and wet.
Is he dead, too?
I try to open my eyes, but I can’t.
I try to talk, to ask Declan why I can’t open my eyes, but I can’t talk, either.
The thumping sound is so loud that the ground shakes.Louder even than the Vegas club on New Year’s Eve.I don’t know what’s happening, but it doesn’t matter what it is because I can’t do anything to stop it.Then the wind whips.
“I got you,” I hear Declan say.“I got you, Summer.I’m right by your side.I won’t let anything hurt you.”
I try to smile because I’m already plenty hurt—the pain is everywhere all at once—but I love that he wants to protect me.
“That’s my girl,” he says in my ear.“That’s my beautiful, sweet girl.I got you.I love you.”
Then, he’s gone, replaced by two or three men I don’t know, but they’re working quickly.They put something on my neck, move my head, move my body.
They’re not talking to me, only to each other, but their hands are on me.Working.
Don’t they know I’m dying?
Don’t they know they can’t help me?
And then I’m moving.Suspended in the air, supported by something hard underneath me.
There’s a sound of metal on metal, and the pounding and thumping gets louder.I feel like I’m lifting high.
“I’m still with you,” Declan says into my ear.“I’m not going anywhere.You’re safe.”
I try to smile again because I’m not safe, but I love that he wants me to be safe.I love him.
I love Declan.
My husband.
Drifting off, I settle into a nice dream of clouds and soft hues of white and gray.I go in and out of this dream, pulled out by loud noises, by more hands on me, and by yelling.
Lots and lots of yelling.
“Open your eyes, Summer!”
It’s a voice I recognize.It’s not Declan.It’s female.
“Open your eyes, Summer!”she repeats.“Right fucking now!”
Oh.It’s Phoebe.I wonder where I am.
Am I in Honduras at her wedding?How does she like being married?I bet she has a big, fat diamond.How is she going to work as a nurse with a big, fat diamond ring on her hand?Will she even be able to move it?But she has to have a ring like that.Evander would insist on it.
Because he’s so fancy and she’s as sweet as a daisy.
“Open your fucking eyes, or I’m going to slap the shit out of you!”Phoebe hollers.
I want to laugh, but I can’t.I’ve never heard Phoebe yell like this before or use those words.She sounds like me.And I’m sure she would never slap me, let alone slap the shit out of me.
