Page 259 of Only Be Mine

Then everything else.

My last thought wasn’t fear.

It wasn’t anger.

It was her.

I hoped she never knew how I died.

I hoped she only remembered how much I loved her.

And then…

Nothing.

Chapter 85

Cate

Present

The first thing I heard was beeping.

Steady.

Measured.

Alive.

It took longer to realize the sound was attached to me.

My eyes opened slowly, like they weren’t sure it was safe yet.

White ceiling.

Fluorescent lights.

The faint smell of antiseptic.

Hospital.

My throat hurt.

Not scratchy.

Bruised.

Every swallow felt like it had edges.

A sob broke somewhere to my left.

“Cate?”

My mother.

Her voice cracked on my name like it might break entirely.

I turned my head an inch.