Page 88 of The Lost Bones

A voice came from behind her. A woman’s voice. Mackenzie recognized it before she turned around. When she did, she saw her mother sitting at the table. A thick mane of curly black hair crowned her head. Her gray eyes were like saucers. Her lips puffy.

She looked exactly like Mackenzie had always remembered her.

“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”

“Mom?” She felt her heart slow down. It was too slow now. Barely beating at all. “What’s going on?”

“You’ve come a long way. I used to worry I’d ruined you for good,” Melody said softly. She didn’t look happy, but neither was she sad. She looked neutral, with an air of tranquility surrounding her.

“Do you regret it? All the lies you told?” Mackenzie asked.

Melody nodded. “I didn’t realize my weakness would destroy so many lives. I’ve watched you overcome so much gracefully. But I still see myself in you.”

“I’m not like you.” Mackenzie looked around, trying to make sense of what was going on. She remembered a few tricks she’d read to wake up from a dream. She caught her reflection in a mirror and slapped herself. “Wake up. Wake up.”

She spotted the clock on the wall. It said 9:15. She counted to a minute in her head and looked at it again. 9:16. But time was supposed to be warped in dreams. She tried to control the elements around her. Tried to make something happen, but nothing did. She had zero control.

“Are you done?” Melody smiled.

Mackenzie pressed her hand into her chest.Thud.And then thirty seconds later.Thud.

“Honey, there was a time in my life when there was happiness right in front of me, but I didn’t reach for it.”

“Robert?”

Melody nodded. “I loved him, Mackenzie. I know you won’t believe me, because my actions were so deplorable. But I did.”

“What happened?”

“I was weak. I had bad habits. They cost me my chance. You and I could have had it all.”

Everything Mackenzie felt was severely diluted. Both positive and negative emotions barely brushed her by. Even her confusion at being in this place was tempered. Like she was detached from it all and herself.

“Don’t do what I did, Mackenzie. You’ve been doing so well. But it will all be for nothing if you don’t realize the final prize at the end of it.”

“What’s that?”

Melody smiled. “I think you know. Don’t let your habit of not wanting to be vulnerable cost youyourchance. Life is supposed to be lived. But you can’t live if you don’t love.”

Then everything collapsed.

Mackenzie’s eyes opened with a jolt. Her heart was racing again. Racing too fast. She was panting, like she had just run a marathon. It took her a few moments to take in her surroundings. She was in a hospital room. And someone was holding her hand.

Her neck ached as she craned to see who it was. Nick was sitting on a chair, but his head was on the bed by her waist, resting on his forearm. His other hand was atop hers.

Mackenzie’s chest felt like it was disintegrating. Suddenly the machine started making a beeping sound. Apparently her heart rate had jumped too high.

Nick woke up suddenly. “Huh? What? Mack! Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she croaked. “How long have I been out for?”

“It’s been a few hours since your surgery.” He clicked a button to call the nurse.

“What happened?” It was all hazy. Her neck felt stiff. The back of her head was sore. But her body felt fine other than a general weakness.

“You were shot.”

“Shot?” she shrieked. Then it all came back to her. How they were with Judge Hamilton in the conference room when she heard the glass crack.