Quin clenches his fist. "I believe Javier and Josephine equally hold Damon's power of attorney."
“So, we just ask them to change it,” I say, pulse quickening. “They’ll change it. Of course, they’ll change it. They’re not going to let him die, right? They wouldn’t let him die. They wouldn’t.”
Quin’s expression falls grim as he looks at me. “Voiding the DNR would be going against Damon’s will. Josephine and Javier… They love Damon. They… They may want to honor his wishes, even if it means..."
I hate hospitals.
Something is always left behind.
THE WILDFIRE
QUINTON
Wake up,Damon. Please… Wake up.
I hover by his bedside, staring down at his bruised face, the endless stitches, the gauze on his right ear. Christ. I’m so sorry, D. I’m so fucking sorry. I should’ve tried harder. I should’ve fought harder. I should’ve dragged you back to us no matter how much you resisted. I knew you wouldn’t hurt her. I knew you wouldn’t betray her trust, her love. I knew it.
Deep down, I fucking knew.
I sink down in the stool beside him and reach for his bandaged hand. “I need you to wake up, mate,” I whisper, gently stroking his knuckles. My voice cracks. “You’re strong, Damon. You’ve always been strong. Butwe need you to wake up. We need you to open your eyes. Please.”
I clench my jaw, commanding the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes to back the fuck down. I can’t. Not here. Not in front of him. Not in front of Emery. She’ll be back any moment. She can’t see me like this. We can’t both break down.
“You did a brave thing, D. A stupid, rash, but fucking brave thing. But now it’s time to come home. So please, Damon, if you can hear, please wake up. Wake up and tell them. Tell them you want to live. Tell them to do everything in their fucking power to make sure you live. You…”
My lungs squeeze my heart, painful and raw. “You deserve to live, Damon. You need to believe that. You need to believe you’re worthy of a life. That you’re worthy of love and a future. Please, Damon. You’re a good person. You’re a good fucking man, but you need to believe that. You need to wake up. You need to live for us. Javier…” The tendons in my neck tighten. “Javier and Josephine should be here tomorrow. Javier’s on a business trip, and Josie was in New Mexico visiting her kids. But they’re coming, Damon. They’re coming, but I-I don’t know what they’ll do. They… They wouldn’t talk to me. They… They love you, Damon. We all fucking love you. But this isn’t your will. This can’t be. Open your eyes, mate. Open your eyes and then maybe you’ll see just how much you have to live for. Please…”
Damon’s heart monitor keeps a rhythmic beep, no changes, no nothing.
“Fight, Damon. Come on… Move your finger for me. If you can hear me, D. Please, move your finger.”
I stare down at his hand, willing my best fucking friend to hear my pleas, but he’s stubborn. So goddamn stubborn. His brain activity is normal. No head trauma. He’s in there. He’s somewhere in there. Hiding. Afraid. But he can come out. He needs to know that he can come out. It’s safe here. I promise it’s safe, Damon. We forgive you. We all forgive you. There’s no need to hide. We’ll keep you safe, Damon. We’ll be here. Just wake up.
I look up at the sound of the door opening. Sage wheels Emery into Damon’s private room.
Emery swallows, eyes weary and red as she glances at Damon’s still body. “No changes?”
“Not yet.”
Hope. We need to have hope. It needs to be our fuel. Our fire. We need to continue adding logs and kindling, one after another. It can’t go out. No matter how small the flame, we need to keep it going. The smallest of embers can start a wildfire. And that’s what we need. A wildfire of hope.
“I’m going to grab a coffee,” Sage says. “Do either of you want anything?”
Emery shakes her head. “I’m good, thank you.”
I sigh, meeting Emery’s lifeless gaze. “You need to eat, darling. Maybe a sandwich?”
“I’ll get a few things,” Sage whispers. She looks down at her dog, Bones. “Do you want him to stay with you?” The golden retriever peers into my soul, and mygut twists. “I’ll leave him.” She bends down, dropping his leash. “Go to Quin, Bonesy, go on.”
The dog prances toward me, and sits by my side, his chin resting on my lap. I place a gentle hand on his head and close my eyes. “Thank you, Sage.”
Sage nods and disappears down the hallway.
Emery wheels herself closer to me and parks beside Bones. “I can’t believe they didn’t sign the forms.”
“They’re coming, Emery. They’ll be here soon.”
She scoffs, unable to look at Damon as guilt captures her features. “They could’ve done it electronically. They’re not going to sign it, Quin. They’re going to let him die.”
