Page 81 of Mountain Shadow

“How many units?”

“Three.”

“Jesus, Jens.”

“She’s dying.”

“We’ve got her. You’re not going to pass out on me, are you?”

Jens quickly shook his head. He was shaken more by Sarah’s injury than by blood loss.

Watching Gael and Tristan jump into action, Jens felt the first shred of hope inside him, that maybe, somehow, everything would be alright.

26

Sarah

Consciousness returned slowly. There was something important—

Kat.

Where’s Kat.

She opened her eyes, swallowing back a cry of pain. The wall facing her was a drab beige, and Sarah recognized the room as a hospital room, even though she’d never before set foot in a hospital in France.

Her fear melted away as she saw Jens sitting by her bed, his large frame folded into a small chair.

“Sarah?” His voice sounded gruff and hoarse.

She tried to speak, but only a croak came out. Her tongue seemed to have thickened inside her mouth.

“Hold on,” he said. “Let me get you some water.”

He held a paper straw to her mouth and she sipped greedily, though he removed it too soon. At least, her tongue seemed to fit better inside her mouth afterwards.

“Kat …” she whispered, scared to turn it into a sentence.

“She’s fine,” Jens said, holding on to her hand. “She’s in another room, but it’s just a precaution. She and the babies are all fine.”

“You wouldn’t lie to me, right?” she asked.

I couldn’t bear it if you lied to me.

“I won’t ever lie to you. I promise you, Sarah.”

She tried to focus on his face, but the effort was too much

“I’m a bit tired,” she said, her eyes already closing.

“Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

She felt a soft exhale on her skin, then a gentle scratching as his lips kissed her forehead. The scratchiness confused her. Jens’s chin was always smooth, since he shaved twice a day. She fell asleep before she could figure it out.

When she woke up next, Jens wasn’t there. His large frame had been replaced by her sister’s slighter frame. Tess looked exhausted. There were purple bags under her eyes that Sarah hadn’t seen since her university years.

“Sarah … you’re awake,” Tess gasped. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“You look awful,” Sarah said, before she could stop herself.