My gaze flicks to Britt’s jeep, then I’m plunged into full-blown adrenaline mode. I race back to the house, tossing the umbrella aside and yanking open the screen door.
“Britt, we have to go after him.”
Her hands are clutched to her chest, and I can see the gleam of keys. I’m ready. She’s ready… so why the hell isn’t she moving?
“Brittany? We…”
The moment I get closer, I see the phone wedged between her and the keys she’s holding onto for dear life.
“I’m not supposed to tell you this, but…” she releases a shaky breath. “Keoni didn’t… have a choice for therapy.”
I wet my lips. “What?”
“I urged him to tell you, Ayden.” She drags the back of her hand across her eyes. Mine stinging as I stare, unblinking at her. “He drove to the site of the accident… When he confirmed it for himself, he didn’t go back to Phoenix.” Her throat strains as she swallows. “If it hadn’t been for his fire chief calling the police in Coconino County, he would’ve jumped from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.”
I’m not sure how I stay on my feet.
“I’d called to see how he was doing, but when I couldn’t get ahold of him, I tried the hospitals, hoping it wasn’t the worst news imaginable… When I found him, he was sitting in jail. A judge was going to order involuntary treatment, but… I convinced him to come see me and to move here like he had planned.”
Where are my words? It’s like I’ve lost the ability to speak. I have so much I want to scream, but nothing comes out. It’s… painful.
“I should call it directly in, but I can’t.” Tears sit in her eyes. “He’s so different now, sohappy, and doing so much better. I don’t want to see him in a facility, away from you, it’ll have the opposite effect.”
She slowly moves to me, or at least I thought she was coming toward me. Instead, she turns toward the door.
“I need to go help them find him. I contacted a friend at the police department and he’s going to put out a call to look for his truck. I won’t let them take him in, I’ll bring him right back to you. So, stay here?—”
“No…” I finally findsomethingworth spilling. “Take me with you.”
“What happens if he comes back? If you aren’t here… he may think you left. His mental state…” She pauses and takes a quick breath. “It’s fragile.”
“I never sawanyof this.”
“It just takes one small thing. A fire doesn’t need much to catch, and even less for it to spread. I shouldn’t have pushed. Especially not on our first session back from the holidays.”
As she goes to brush past me, I quickly grab onto her arm. “You expect me to just sit here? Are you crazy?”
She drops her chin, before looking up at me. “I expect you to be herewhenhe gets back.”
When.
I’m not entirely sure if I let her go, or she jerks from my grip, because within the span of a blink, I’m alone. The walls of the cabin squeeze in tight, before they expand outward. My entire world spins, and it’s as though gravity lifts, causing me to stumble a few steps back.
The feeling of dread comes over my entire body. I’m seeing the headlights coming right at me, and it’smethat’s about to be crushed.
My heart is running, trying to save itself from the death that’s inevitably coming.
I try to see, but nothing makes sense, and I recognize far too late what’s happening. My breath comes too sharp, and I can’t catch it before I begin to hyperventilate.
Grabbing at my chest, I go to try and step, but the realization I’m on the floor hits me like the ache in my shoulder.
Keo…no, no. Please. Don’t…
The air is thick, too thick, and it’s like time itself has stopped around me, but I’m allowed to move through it. I wish I could pause. I don’t want this ache. The chills. The numbness.
Oh god.
What… What’s happening?!
