Page 82 of The Destruction You Desire

I sobbed like a baby as we sat there holding hands, crying together for everything we've lost. It might have been a harrowing experience, but it was the closest I've felt to my sister in years and I didn't want it to end.

Each time she wakes, she’s stronger and this morning she spoke properly for the first time asking me where she was and what had happened. I skirted around the reality of the situation, unsure how she'd really deal with the truth right now and she seemed to accept it.

"Okay then, young lady," Dr. Willis says brightly after poking her head into the room to see if Libby's awake. "Are you ready to make your escape?"

Libby scoffs, already knowing that the only place she's escaping to is another hospital.

I have no clue what kind of strings Luca managed to pull when he sorted all this out but now that Libby is awake and all her vitals are looking good, she's getting airlifted to Maddison County General where there's a private room waiting for her.

As glad as I am to finally be heading home, I'm terrified it's going to set her back in some way.

All the doctors and nurses have assured me that she'll be fine, but I still can't help worrying.

"I'm going to be right beside you the whole way, okay?"

She nods at me but I can see the torment in her eyes.

After packing everything up, we make our way up to the roof where we find a helicopter which is way bigger than I was anticipating.

"H-how?" Libby asks, her voice rough from sleep.

"You don't need to worry about that now, Lib. Just enjoy the luxury. A chopper all to yourself, not everyone gets to experience that."

A small smile curls at her lips but it's forced.

Dr. Willis and the two nurses who've spent the most time with Libby talk to the medical staff who are going to be flying with us and in no time we're all strapped in and ready to go.

"Thank you," I say sincerely to Dr. Willis, more grateful than she can ever know for everything she's done for both of us over the past two weeks.

She smiles at me. "Look after each other, you two." And with a nod, the sliding door is closed and we're on our way back.

Back to Maddison.

Back to real life.

Back to Luca.

I wring my hands on my lap as I think about having to see him again after ignoring all his attempts to contact me. Although, all of that vanished a couple of days ago like he totally forgot I existed. I don't know what's worse, the reminder that I possibly made the wrong decision or the fact he's moved on from it.

"Why do you look so nervous about this?" Libby asks me. She's not been awake all that long but already her eyes are getting heavy.

"A lot has changed in five years, Lib." I don't say it to be mean or make her feel guilty but from the look on her face as the words pass my lips, I know that's how she's taken it. "My life… it's… things are just really up in the air. Being here with you, it's been somewhat of a relief."

"You don't want to go back?"

Isn't that the million-dollar question.

"Of course. It's our home now, Lib." I smile at her, but she doesn't return it.

"I don't have a home, Peyton. Haven't for a long time."

"Then it's time to fix that, don't you think?"

Ripping her eyes away from mine, she blankly stares out of the helicopter as we move smoothly through the sky, my stomach twisting with all the unknowns we've yet to come across.

19

Luca