the windshield like someone is going to appear there.
I’m tempted to force him to tell me who is after us, and what all is going on, but I need to focus on the most important thing right now. Donna had a stroke, the one and only person to ever care for me is most likely dying, and there isn’t shit I can do about it.
Guilt clings to me as we get closer to the city. Maybe I should’ve spent more time with her, maybe I should’ve tried to get her into an even better nursing home, maybe something closer. The thoughts swirl like water running down a drain.
“Everything is going to be okay. I will always protect you… love you,” Zane says, breaking the silence. It’s like he knows how much I need someone to lean on.
Like he can feel the despair pumping through my veins. His words don’t change what’s happening right now though, and they don’t make the loss of Donna any easier, but they do make me feel less alone.
“My heart hurts. It feels like I’m losing a piece of my soul.” I swallow around the lump of emotions in my throat. “Donna was the only person to ever care for me. She adopted me when all hope was lost. When I was sure, I would forever be stuck in the system. Someone as sweet and caring as she doesn’t deserve to die, especially from a stroke.” I don’t know why I’m telling him this, it’s not like he doesn’t already know everything about Donna and me.
Zane’s hand comes to rest on my thigh, his touch makes my insides tingle.
“Donna doesn’t deserve this, no, but we don’t get to choose how someone dies.”
I turn to him. “Says the one who kills people.”
He gives me a sly grin, and my entire body warms all over. “Touché.”
We arrive at the hospital a few minutes later, pulling into the emergency room parking lot. Zane parks, but before I can get out, he shakes his head, ordering me to stay put for a second. We’re so close, and all I want to do is go inside and see Donna. Walking around the car, he opens my door and helps me out. His fingers interlock with mine as we walk across the sidewalk and into the hospital. With each step I take, the sicker I feel. Part of me wants to scream and yell and ask why the hell this is happening, and the other part just wants to break down and cry.
I remember Zane’s instructions as we reach the round circular desk, where the receptionist is. Don’t talk to anyone. Keep your eyes down. Don’t draw attention. Staring down at our joined hands like they’re the most majestic thing I’ve ever seen, I let Zane do all the talking while pretending like I’m not interested in the conversation.
“She’s in the ICU. I’ll send you down there, and one of the nurses will meet with you,” the receptionist says. I don’t even bother commenting on the fact that she’s checking Zane out, drool basically dribbling down her chin. Jealousy has no place in my heart right now.
“Thank you,” Zane says with a smile, and we head in the direction of the ICU, following the signs in the hospital.
When we reach the unit, there is a set of double doors that you have to be buzzed to get into. Zane squeezes my hand tighter and turns to me.
“It’s going to be hard to see her like this. Are you sure this is what you want?”
“We’re here, and we’re going in. I don’t care what condition she’s in. I need to see her.” My voice cracks, and my heart splinters in my chest. Zane nods and presses the button for us to be buzzed in. A second later, the door opens, and we walk into the ICU unit. There are monitors everywhere and things that sound like alarms going off.
Zane guides us up to yet another desk, where a woman in scrubs greets us.
“Hi, we’ve come to see Donna Miller.”
The nurse walks around the desk and comes over to us, a folder in her hand. “Come with me, and we will discuss her condition.”
I can hardly breathe, and suddenly I feel dizzy. Latching onto Zane’s arm, I let him guide us where we need to go. “Donna is in critical condition right now. She’s on a ventilator, and her brain function is…” The nurse pauses and frowns when she sees my reaction. I’m pretty