“Well, she’s my twin,” I said, darting my gaze between my parents, “she’s the other part of me. So, of course I’m going to help. I’m going to help her the way you should have helped her all those years ago.”
“Honey,” Mom whispered as tears lined her eyes, “we didn’t—we couldn’t have possibly—”
I nodded. “I know. But it didn’t help. So, I’m going to go in there and be the sister that she deserves, even if this is my only chance to be that to her. And if you love me? If you want me to be okay after all this? You’ll let me do it.”
Then, without another word from my parents, I pivoted on the balls of my feet toward the E.R. doors.
“Lead the way, Doc.”
“Brielle, come on!” Dad called out. “We just weren’t equipped to take care of someone like her!”
“You’re brave for doing this,” the doctor said as he escorted me through the automatic doors.
I heard Mom hot on my heels. “Will she need any tests or anything before she gives blood?”
My head had never moved so fast as I looked over at her. “Really?”
She took my hand and paused both of us in our tracks. “If this is really what you want, you know I’ll always support you. I’m just so glad you’re all right.”
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I love you, Mom.”
She sniffled before drawing in a broken breath as she held me close. “I love you, too, honey.”
“No,” the doctor said, placing a hand on my shoulder, “but we need to go, she’s bleeding out quickly, and she won’t last much longer.”
I released Mom and dried her tears with my thumbs. “Watch after Dad, will you? He’s gonna give himself an aneurysm pacing the way he is.”
Mom snickered. “We’ll be waiting for you right out here.”
“Miss?”
I relinquished my mother and fell in line with the doctor as he walked toward those metal double doors. “Brielle, please.”
“Doctor Ingles.”
I smiled. “Like the show, right?”
He chuckled. “You have no idea how often I get that question.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s enough to make you hate it.”
“You have no idea. Follow me, we’ll get you set up in here.”
He ushered me into a room where a nurse stood, waiting for me to sit in the recliner she had prepared for me.
“Sit there?” I asked, pointing.
Dr. Ingles held out his hand. “Yep. Just make yourself comfortable. I’m gonna go get you some juice and a few crackers to snack on, just in case.”
“How much can I give right now?”
“Two,” he said without hesitation, “but any more than that is pushing it, so we won’t take more than that.”
I eased down into the chair, put my feet up, and held out my good arm. “Lay it on me, then.”
As I stared up at the ceiling while they prepped me for blood extraction, the guys came flooding back into my memories. They were gone, just like that. Out of my life, for good. The ache in my gut made me sick to my stomach. I had to close my eyes and take in deep breaths just to get through the blood donation. I wanted nothing to do with any food or drinks. I didn’t want to get back to work, or go home, or deal with my parents.
It felt like I had lived an entire lifetime with those men.
