Page 37 of One Forbidden Moment

His ribs ached when he breathed, but the pain in his chest was worse.Time shouldn't bend that way.It shouldn't fold in on itself like a trick of the light.Could Everstill have the power to stop time on the other side of the veil?

Behind him, Jillian paced in tight, frantic circles.Her hands kept flying to her hair, pushing it back, then letting it fall, then pushing it back again."I need my phone."She inhaled deeply."I need to look up Everstill.I need to see if anyone knows what's happening.I need—"

"Jillian."He turned toward her, trying to soften his voice even though his nerves were frayed raw."Slow down."

"I can't slow down!"The words burst out of her before she could stop them.She flinched, guilt flashing across her face."I'm sorry.I really want to see my mom.I need to know she's okay."

Her fear hit him harder than the storm had.He wanted to tell her she was right, that they'd go right now, that he'd carry her there if he had to.But a nursing home was a building full of people and staff.He was a wanted man.

"Your mom's fine," he said, forcing steadiness he didn't feel."That's what you said the lady on the phone told you."

"I need to see her with my own eyes," she whispered.

He looked away, jaw tightening."I can't go near a place like that."

She stopped pacing.Her voice softened, but her eyes stayed sharp."Why not?"

"Because it's obvious from my last time here that people know my face.The police will know who I am.If someone recognizes me, I'm done.And I can't protect you from a jail cell."

Her expression wavered between sympathy, frustration, and fear."Then I'll go alone."

"No."He forced himself to breathe."Not until we know what's going on."

She shook her head, tears gathering."I can't just sit here.I need my phone.I need to look up Everstill.I need—"

"You need to breathe," he said quietly."It's not like you can call Everstill."

"That's not..."She frowned."I need my phone to look up information on Everstill and to search for answers on what happened to me."She pressed her palms to her eyes, shoulders trembling."You don't know how phones work, do you?"

He scoffed."I know phones."

"No, I mean, you don't know the internet."

There was too much information, showing him he no longer belonged to this life.Ceramic owls, framed photos, soft blankets, and phones that gave answers.He turned away, pretending to check the lock on the window, pretending he wasn't unraveling.

Time hadn't passed for Jillian while she was away.Did that mean time hadn't passed for him?The only one who could help him find answers was Finn.

"Moe...what do we do?"

He turned back to her.She looked young and fragile in her own kitchen.Everstill had carved something out of her and left a hollow space she didn't know how to fill.

And he was the one responsible for putting her in that position to get hurt.

"You can find out answers on your phone?"he asked.

She nodded."Yes."

"Then we get your phone," he said."We figure out what the veil did.We find Finn."

"My phone is in my bag in my mom's room at the nursing home."

He cupped her cheek."Then we go see your mom."

She nodded, wiping her eyes, but he could see the fear behind the motion.The fear that none of this was real, or worse, that it was too late.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice."We'll take it slow.We'll stay out of sight.I won't let anything happen to you."

She sighed loudly and looked at him like he was the only rational thing in a world that had stopped making sense.The look hit him harder than any blow the veil could throw at him.