An EMT squats in front of Danika on the ground, still—too still.A girl kneels beside her, but I can’t make out their faces.
Please, no.
“You don’t understand!”The yelling draws everyone’s attention.A police officer escorts a cuffed Oren toward a cruiser.“You got it all wrong!”
The red scratches on his face and neck speak louder.
I pass a young woman crying into her phone and another officer taking statement.When I reach Danika, I inhale sharply.She’s not moving.
My breath stutters in relief when she’s slowly positioned upright against a nearby tree.
Her face is drained of color.Tears streak down her cheeks.Her neck is red with angry claw marks.Her blue eyes meet mine, and she bursts into sobs.
I don’t ask permission to approach.I’m on my knees and pulling her to me.“I’m so sorry.I’m so sorry.”I cry into her hair.
“We need her to come get checked out.And the police are going to want a statement and photographs.”
I keep holding her, trying to assure her that I’ve got her.
Too late.
“Miss?”
A hand is on my back.I look behind me.Collin is there.“Let them take her to the hospital.”
I return to Danika.“Want me to come with you?”She nods imperceptibly.
I help the EMT get her to her feet and follow them both to the ambulance.I give Collin my keys.
“I’ll meet you there.”
I sit on the seat next to the gurney in the ambulance as they strap her in.
Just before the driver closes the door, I see Jonathan standing behind Collin.Livvy beside him.I close my eyes, making him disappear.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Waiting is miserable.Every minute feels like an hour.Danika’s parents are with her beyond the emergency room doors.My mom is with me.Collin texted her when she started calling.I didn’t have the voice to answer.I still don’t.Not a single word to describe the internal trauma I’m experiencing.
My dad and Collin are out getting something.Coffee?Food?I can’t remember.I wasn’t listening.Jonathan made it as far as the entrance before Collin intercepted him.He must’ve told him not to be here because I haven’t seen Jonathan since.I’ve been staring at the doors leading to the emergency rooms, waiting for someone to come out and tell ussomething.
Danika didn’t speak in the ambulance.She couldn’t.The EMT asked me to keep her calm because crying would cause more swelling.And she was already having a hard time breathing.
So, I held her hand and told her how strong she was.How much I admired her.That I loved her.And would be here for her through all of this.
I don’t know if she heard me.Probably not.She closed her eyes and focused on breathing into the oxygen mask.I watched the slow rise and fall of her chest with each labored, wheezing breath.
Sitting on the other side of me is the person who was there for Danika.The one who heard them arguing.Who heard Oren tell Danika to shut up.To stop talking.That she didn’t know what she was saying.
“Don’t.Speak.I don’t want to hear what you’re saying.”
His hands around her throat.
Her back slamming against the tree.
Her nails clawing for air that wasn’t there.
“My mom is here,” Laurel says.“I have to go to the police station to tell them what I saw.Will you text me when you hear anything?”
