Page 106 of Diluted Truths

I stared at him in shock. “When?”

“A year ago.”

My eyes widened. A year ago? I knew Sarah didn’t know, and I knew Jackie didn’t know.

“Holy fuck, Fai.”

“I know. Trust me.” I saw tears begin to well in his eyes. “I know.”

We sat in silence for a moment but all thoughts of Fai breaking his sobriety were forgotten when a nurse came back to tell us we could see her. Only one person was allowed back at a time. I turned to Theo and Kai, waiting to see which one of them would be first, but they just stared back at me.

“What are you doing?” Kai asked. “Go.”

I hugged him quickly and said my thanks before following the nurse back into the hospital. She took me through winding hallways. Finally, we approached a door flanked by two police officers.

“She’s in there,” the nurse explained. “She’s really shaken and confused. Give her some time. Okay?”

I nodded and followed her into the room. Jackie wasn’t in the bed. I panicked looking for her and I stopped in my tracks when I finally saw her.

She was looking out the window, her blonde hair falling down her back. She had lost weight and her eyes had dark circles around them, yet she was still the most beautiful person I had ever seen.

“Sunshine?” I asked quietly.

She turned to me. I saw a flash of confusion and fear in her eyes initially, but the second they met mine they light I had come to rely on was back.

“Will, is that really you?”

I nodded and began walking toward her. She followed suit and quickly flung herself in my arms. I held her to me and began to cry.

I finally had her back. She was safe. She was home.

“I love you, Jackie,” I whispered to her.

“I love you too, Will,” she responded before leaning back to look at me. “You look like hell.”

I chuckled. “Right back at ya.”

She giggled.

God, I loved that sound.

“At least I have an excuse.”

I framed her face in my hand and just looked at my Jackie for a moment. She didn’t seem overly hurt. She was in one piece. Her eyes were different. Something in her changed while she was gone.

“What happened?” I asked timidly. “If you’re not ready to talk about it, you don’t need to answer,” I quickly rushed out, not wanting to pressure her.

“I want to tell everyone at once, is that okay? Are they here?”

I nodded. “Everyone is. Fai, Sarah, Oliver, Theo and Kai. Goldie is watching Violet at my house right now. We thought we should see how things were before bringing her.”

“Theo and Kai are here?” she asked, hopeful, and turned to the nurse, who I had completely forgotten about. “Can you bring them back please?”

She nodded and left for a moment. I took advantage of our time alone and immediately kissed Jackie with everything in me. I poured my love and fear into it. Jackie met me with just as much passion.

God, I missed her.

We were interrupted by a throat clearing. I turned to see a very pissed off Kai and an amused Theo.