Page 104 of After All The Wreckage

Mom.

I wasn’t sure if I’d hung up or Nan had as the phone slipped from my grasp. My arms pulled tight around my waist as sharp barbs landed inside my chest and stomach. I barely registered Gage whipping the car to the side of the road as horns blared. He slammed the SUV into Park and reached for me. I recoiled.If he touched me, I’d never be able to hold myself together. I’d crumble.

“D-don’t stop, Gage! I n-need to get to Sh-shady Lane.”

It was already too late. I was already too late! I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye. A raw and feral sound broke free of my chest. Some weird combination of a scream and a sob.

“Rory. What happened?”

I couldn’t look at him, but I could hear his concern, and it spiraled me more. This was my fault. It was all my fault. Dad had been right all along.

Dad!

Maybe this wasn’t all on me.

My hands fumbled to find my phone. He picked up after two rings. “What did you do?” I hollered into it.

“Rory? What’s wrong?” His voice was calm but concerned.

“Did you do this? Just tell me…” Another tortured sob broke free.

Before I knew it, Gage had lifted me over the console and onto his lap. He cradled me in his arms. His warmth bled into me, and all I could do was sob.

“Rory, honey, where are you? What’s wrong?” Dad’s voice held more emotion than I’d ever heard from him.

“Someone signed the order to shut off M-mom’s life s-support!” My voice was garbled with tears and emotions.

I could barely breathe. My lungs were squeezed tight, unable to perform their simple function. The world swam in front of my eyes.

Gage grunted out a shocked huff, and his arms tightened. His forehead settled in the crook of my neck as he whispered, “Rory.” That single word was full of compassion and sadness and loss. And it made the tears flow faster and harder.

Dad had gone silent. I didn’t know if it was shock or guilt.

I pushed away from Gage, climbing back into my seat. “Please, Gage. Please. Get me to my mom.”

Gage’s face was contorted with grief and pain, but he put the car into gear, looked over his shoulder, and whipped back into the lane.

“Rory… Jesus… I can’t believe you think I’d do that.” Dad’s voice finally came over the line. “You’re the only one who can.”

“S-someone forged my signature, Dad. S-someone…” I couldn’t even say it. But I could think it. Someone had signed Mom’s death warrant.

That’s one. I wonder who will be number two?

Hatred filled me. Hatred and anguish and regret because it wasn’t Dad who was responsible. This was all on me. All of it.

“I fucked up, Dad… I fucked up… and they k-killed her…”

Sobs escaped me. Loud and angry.

“Are you at Shady Lane? I’m on my way, honey. I’m on my way.”

I hung up. I wasn’t there. I’d be there before him, but it wouldn’t be in time.

An entire lifetime went by as Gage weaved through traffic and changed lanes, pushing safety to the limits as he raced toward Cherry Bay. We squealed into the Shady Lane parking lot, and I bolted from the car, leaving everything behind me.

My boots were loud, pounding the same ferocious beat of my heart as I sped through the doors and down the sterile hallway. Someone at the front desk yelled at me because I hadn’t stopped to sign in, but I just kept running until I was skidding through the doorway of Mom’s room.

Nan had her face buried in the blankets on top of Mom, holding her hands. The machines that had been beeping out a rhythm for almost a year were silent, and it felt wrong. It felt wrong and awful and terrifying.