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“What happened?” Elaine says from behind me.

I turn and her older brother leans forward to kiss her cheek. “Hey, sis.”

Stuart’s entire body is tense. “Ben said it looked like they jumped him in the weight room. By the time he got there, Derek had been stabbed twice.”

My hand flies to my mouth. Tears blur my vision, and another set of arms embrace me. Elaine hugs me on top of her brother, and for a moment, I take comfort from my childhood friends.

I only give it a moment, however, straightening up and wiping the tears away. “He’s going to be okay.” My voice is wobbly, and I have to force myself to believe it. I won’t give up on him. Not after how far we’ve come.

“Mrs. Alexander?” A soft voice speaks from behind us, and I turn.

“Here,” Patrick says, gesturing to me. I don’t correct him.

The doctor joins us in the waiting area, grim-faced. “May I speak to you in private?”

My knees try to go out, and Stuart catches my arm. Blinking up to him, I hold his hand. Be strong, Melissa.

“It’s okay,” I manage. “These are his closest friends... and his lawyer.”

A tight smile doesn’t soften the doctor’s expression. His eyes travel over the five of us before he continues. “We moved him to a private room. He’s heavily sedated, but he’s not intubated. He won’t require surgery, since the lung didn’t fully collapse. Luckily the wound wasn’t very deep or jagged. I took him off the ventilator, and once I see how he responds to treatment, we’ll bring him around.”

“So he’s okay?” Stuart cuts to the chase in his usual, direct way.

“He’s developed an infection around the second stab wound that we’re monitoring. His fever spiked, and we’ve started antibiotics in his drip. I’m concerned about sepsis.”

The white threatens again, and I’m sure I’ll faint.

“Mrs. Alexander,” the doctor catches my arm. “I didn’t mean to be insensitive. Can I get you something?”

“No,” shaking my head, I blink down as tears fall. “So he’s... not okay?”

His voice softens. “Your husband is healthy and fit. I’d rather be overly cautious. He had some minor contusions, and his body needs rest.”

“Can I see him?”

“I’m limiting visitors—as much for exposure as anything else.”

My chest squeezes. The tears won’t stop flowing, and Elaine passes me a handful of tissues.

The doctor observes me a moment. “Still... He might benefit from having you beside him.”

Without hesitation or even a look back, I go to Derek’s hospital room. I

can’t see him from the small window. A screen stands between the bed and the door, and inside, the steady beep of monitors fills the air.

Stepping around the screen, a fresh flood of tears spills down my cheeks. He’s so pale. Lying on his back, his shirt is off and wide bands of gauze are wrapped around his chest. I can see the thick pads where his injuries are. I can’t bear the thought of what happened to him. Stabbed, beaten, jumped by five men...

The IV bag hangs near his head. His dark hair is pushed back, and his eyes are closed. That lovely scruff is still on his cheeks, and I want to press my face to his, kiss his lips gently, tell him it’s going to be okay. I’m here. I’ll never leave him again.

The doctor’s concern for infection is on my mind, so instead I pull up a chair at his bedside and sit, sliding my cool hand under his large one. I kiss the top before lowering my face to put my damp cheek against it.

“You’re so warm,” I say, swallowing the thickness in my throat. “The doctor is giving you something for that. He says it will fight the infection.”

No change. The beeping continues, and I continue to stroke his hand, making my way slowly up his forearm. His skin feels so good to touch. I have him with me again. It feels like years have gone by since he held me in his arms. Looking back, I realize how precious our love is, how much I have to fight for it. He doesn’t tell me important things. He protects me too much. We can work through these non-problems.

“I’m so sorry we fought,” I whisper, smoothing the dark hairs on his forearm. “I’m sorry I was angry. I love you.”

Movement behind the screen, and I look up to see a nurse entering. She has dark hair touched with silver, and when she smiles, lines form around her brown eyes.