Page 86

awake.”

He nodded, like he knew exactly where he’d been. “I’m

awake.”

He was already propped up with pillows. She leaned in and

draped herself across him, holding him close, inhaling the

sterile hospital scent that wasn’t anything like the scent she’d

known all her life. He was still there beneath the layers of it.

She fought to find it, to find him.

“I’m so glad. I have so many things I need to say to you.”

She propped herself up on her elbow, still leaning over the

railing of the bed, so she could look her dad right in the eye.

“I’ve done something terrible. It was wrong. I thought it was

necessary, but it wasn’t. I was wrong and I’ve hurt someone.

Deeply.”

She doesn’t know it yet. She’s throwing herself into saving

something that never existed. The way she touched me this

morning, it wasn’t like anything I’ve ever known. She made me

feel alive. She made it feel like breathing was still possible.

She made me feel seen and wanted and treasured. I’ve never

felt that with anyone.

Her dad used all his strength to lift his other hand and

encase hers in both of his. “There’s nothing that can’t be fixed

by telling the truth and saying you’re sorry, if you’re genuine.

It doesn’t mean that everything will be better. Things might

still be horrible and that hurt won’t go away, but it might ease

the pain you’re in. It might help your heart.”

Her heart felt like a dead, tortured thing. It squeezed and

clenched in her chest more than it beat.

“Be kind,” her dad advised. He was running out of breath.

Wheezing the words. “You’re going to be okay.” A gulp for