“It takes a toll on everything after a while,” Mom said.
“So, imagine doing it pretty much your entire life, just to stay alive. That’s what she was doing, and when she figured out that she had a twin out there? Someone who’s practically a perfect donor match? She turned her sights on me.”
Mom’s eyes widened. “She wanted you for your organs?”
I pointed at her playfully. “That was my exact reaction, too.”
Dad wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me tightly to his side. “My God, princess. What in the world have you endured?”
Being wrapped in that man’s comforting embrace was all it took for the well to spring forth. He tucked my head against his shoulder and trapped it with his cheek like he always did when I was a little girl, and I collapsed. My chest heaved with heavy sobs that leaked tears of grief down my face. My men had helped save my life, and I’d never see them again. My twin sister would most likely die in that hospital, and she’d never get to be part of my life. I’d never get to know her, or visit her, or have lunch dates with her. All of the would haves and could haves we should have shared would die with her.
And I’d be alone.
Again.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mom said through misty eyes.
“They saved my life, and I’m nev—never—never gonna see—see them again,” I choked out.
“We’ll get you through this,” Dad whispered into my hair.
Mom pulled my legs into her lap and started massaging my feet. “No matter what it takes, sweetheart, we’ll get through this. I promise.”
And as I sat there in my father’s lap, releasing one weeks’ worth of anger, shock, and pain, I still couldn’t stop thinking about them. I still couldn’t snap out of it. I knew that I had to pull myself out of the past, especially since they had made the decision to leave me. They had made the decision to abandon me at the hospital. Hell, for all I knew, that was what Dee had whispered into Jax’s ear.Leave her. Let her go back to her life. We’ll sneak out the back before anyone sees us.
The thought made me nauseous.
I cried so hard that I didn’t even feel my parents manipulating my body. All I knew was that dad’s shoulder gave way to the comfort of my pillow as tears soaked the fabric beneath my cheek. A warmth blanketed me, fluttering all the way down to my relaxed little toes. And as heat permeated through my tired muscles, my eyes grew heavy with sleep.
“Get some rest,” Dad said as he bent down and kissed my forehead.
“We can always reheat your food if you wake up hungry,” Mom whispered, kissing my cheek.
“I love you guys,” I muttered tiredly.
“We love you, too, princess.”
“So much, sweetheart.”
Then, as if my best friend were coming to hang out with me, darkness took over my vision. Dragging me under, just like it always had. At least there was one thing I could count on in life.
Even if it was the darkness.
* * *
The trilling of a bird outside woke me up. As my eyes peeled open, I watched dust float around in the rays of the sun that filtered through the sheer black curtains of my childhood bedroom. I drew in a deep breath of air as an engine struck up. It revved to life, pulling me upright as I turned myself toward the window. Dad was outside mowing the lawn. Back and forth, back, and forth. The same pattern he had drawn across our front lawn ever since I was a little girl running around with bare feet and dirty sundresses. And as I pulled myself out of bed, I walked over to the window and threw it open. There was nothing as refreshing as birds singing while the scent of freshly cut grass filtered through the screen.
It provided a lovely backdrop while I threw on the first set of clothes that I could find.
“I thought I heard you stomping around in here,” Mom said.
I drew in another breath of fresh air, laced with the fresh grass trimmings wafting around outside. “Mmm, morning.”
“Here, I figured you could use this.”
I looked down at the mug of coffee before I took it from her. “Thanks.”
She rubbed my back before guiding me out of my bedroom and toward the kitchen table. “How did you sleep?”
